With my sons starting kindergarten and after seeing photos over the past two weeks of so many children of my friends who are going off to college, or starting high school, I was thinking tonight that I should really be cherishing this time with my sons. They still tell me that they love me multiple times a day, love to give me hugs and kisses, tell me I'm "the best mommy in the world," and say that the weekend days are their favorite days because they get to spend all day with Mommy and Daddy.
It won't be long before they are embarrassed by me and prefer the company of their friends to that of their parents. Before they start thinking I am uncool or can't possibly understand them, instead of thinking that I know everything and coming to me with all their questions. Before they take a bigger step along the path of the inevitable separation from me.
I need to remember that I won't always have Alex wanting to blow me 30 kisses before I leave his room at bedtime and that they won't always be getting up asking for "one more hug." Even on the nights when I am tired and long for them to sleep so that I can have a quiet moment with my husband, or go to sleep myself, I need to dig deep and give them the best I have to give.
Because there will come a day, not too far distant, when they won't want so much of me. And that will be harder, in a way, than being wanted all the time.
