THERE was a knock on the door the other week and it was a little lad from across the road looking for The Beast.
‘Is he comin’ out to play?’ the child asked, looking disappointed when I said that The Beast was with his Nana that day but would come out to play the next afternoon.
I barely managed to close the door before I burst into hysterical sobs – imagine, a friend calling for my boy. He has friends now. Kids that greet him on the street when we go to the shops, that run over to our garden when they see us out playing with trains on the driveway.
It’s too much for me, he’s growing up too fast, he’s not my baby any more, he’s a boy. A BOY!
DON’T LEAVE ME SON!
I had barely recovered when we got some post from his new pre-school, which he’ll be starting in September. Forms about allergies and vaccinations, names and addresses, boxes to tick. I can hardly believe the time has come around already but here we are, he’ll be heading off with his bag on his back and his lunchbox in just a couple of weeks.
DON’T LEAVE ME SON!
To send me further over the edge – sure why not – then we went to the shop and got all the stuff we needed to turn his cot into a toddler bed, complete with Thomas the Tank Engine duvet, the works. He hops in by himself now, he doesn’t need his little sleeping bag anymore, he has a big boy blanket. He’s delighted with himself while I’m doubled up with grief, sobbing into his pre-school forms trying to remember did I actually get him his 13-month vaccinations or did I forget. It’s all a blur.
And then today, Yer Man brought him off to get his hair cut in preparation for school, a good tight cut, a man’s cut, to last him until the mid-term break.
DON’T LEAVE ME SON!
Maybe it’s because I’m hepped up on pain pills from a tooth extraction yesterday (fairly brutal it has to be said) or maybe it’s because I’m a sap but I really just want to put a brick on his head and stop him from growing up and freeze him at this age forever.
It’s odd because when he was a newborn, I couldn’t wait for that stage to end. To be fair, it’s a really tough stage, particularly on a first baby as you’re totally flying blind and haven’t a notion what you’re at. But still, I kind of wished it away, I couldn’t wait for him to get a bit more independent, couldn’t wait for the night feeds to end, that sort of thing.
And it did end of course and once he started walking and talking I really found my groove with him and he with me and we’ve muddled along really nicely. And now I look at him and see that the baby stage is well and truly over, I’m sending him out into the world and he is truly a ‘big boy’ now.
It’s too much. My heart is broken. BROKEN! Pass me a few more Nurofen Plus there, go on, they can’t hurt, I AM BUT A SHELL OF A WOMAN!
I suppose I have to let him go, though, don’t I? Keeping him as my baby isn’t really an option. much as I’d like to. And I know that he’ll always be my baby even when he’s 40 and I know that even though he’s a big boy now he’s still only three, he’s still so tiny and still needs me so much. And I know that his having friends and going to school and having his own proper bed are all good things. They bring him joy and make him happy which is the most important thing.
Bye bye baby, baby goodbye …
Fabio Lunardi
https://g.co/kgs/C1lDtD sniffle! ♥ 😊
The Other Emma
Ah, I’m dreading next year when he starts pre-school. I just want him to stay holding my hand and snuggling under my arm for as long as possible (the tantrums that go with him being two can shag right off but I’ll keep the rest of it, thanks very much).
He keeps asking when can he start school like his cousins and my heart breaks a little bit each time 😦
fancypaperblog
Oh god, I can feel every shred of your pain. My little one is 2 1/2 and it is lovely but seeing her grow is so bittersweet!
Julie Holmes
Great piece Karen!
tric
In a small way this reminds me of me. As my gang leave for college on a Sunday I feel bereft. What is a home with half my family missing (3/4 this year)? On monday and Tuesday I make too much dinner still pining. Then before I know it it’s Friday and my inner voice says, ‘For fecks sake they’re back today and they’ll want a decent dinner!’
What I’m trying to say it’s very hard to let go, but once we get used to it, it does have it’s good moments and they don’t really leave us.
Good luck to you both as he begins his big adventure in a few weeks.
Muuka
It gets so much more interesting as they get older but yes, heart wrenching when you realise they are no longer a real baby anymore. Lots of chocolate for yourself to help.