He pulled his suitcase out the door, the little red Cars one that he had packed with his Mickey, blankie and snacks because Mom-Mom doesn’t have junk food. He walked out the door with a wave confidence and excitement in every step.
He went to get ice cream with a friends family and only for a second did he consider not going. He put the money we gave him in his pocket and off he went. Waving good-bye as he walked down the street.
His sudden independence is at once refreshing and yet another reminder of how much he has grown up, how fast all of this went. The little boy who would cry when I dropped him at school graduated Pre-K and danced and sang with his classmates.
I see the changes. The way he would rather play with his friends than go to his Nana’s. The way he takes initiative on doing things for himself. How he is the best helper with his little sister.
And a part of me knows that much of this independence was forced upon him, that having a little sister has made him have to grow up a little. That the last 3 months and even the 9 before she was born have been spent with me saying, “you can do this yourself” or “can you help mom do this”.
I never want him to feel forced to grow up, I think we push kids to grow up quicker than they need to. And I want him to stay little as long as possible but I’m also so proud of the independent little boy that he is becoming. Proud that he’s learning and growing and building confidence in himself.
And while there is so much he can do on his own, I know he still needs me to cuddle and to help him and to remind him to pack his underwear when he goes to visit his grandparents.
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