It is Birthday Week here. Jane turned 5 on Sunday and Scott turned 8 today. I am officially a mom to two school-aged kids. It is always a busy time with family gatherings and friend parties, cakes and treats to make for school. I both dread and look forward to the celebrating, trying to be fair to both children while also not going overboard. We are right in the thick of it with two events down and three to go.
This year, I am struck by how grown up both kids seem. Jane is so self possessed, a happy princess, announcing proudly that she is five now! Ready for anything, exuding self-confidence.
I look at Scott and I realize what a turning point this is. Eight, for me, was when I stopped being a little kid. I have some memories from being five and six, and a few more at seven, but by eight, I really remember stuff. Not just what happened, but how I felt. It was the year that I realized there wasn't a Santa Claus, that I couldn't do everything and anything I wanted, that my mom and dad weren't always right. I had my first crush, took my first trip without my parents, and got in trouble at school for not listening. Big things.
Jane is coming into the wonderful time of Kindergarten and forever friends. She still gets to be the little kid who can sing the days of the week, but also is part of the bigger kid world, getting on the bus, able to attend summer camps, and play with the older children.
Scott is entering the time when you learn that being a kid is often difficult. You might still get to play a lot, but you have hard work to do at school, chores at home, and responsibilities. You realize that many kids aren't all that nice. That your mom can't fix everything. That life is complex.
Eight and Five.
It is hard to believe.
happy birthdays all around and big, big love for you for collectively surviving 13 years of being a mom!
Posted by: lora | May 01, 2009 at 09:53 AM
Happy birthdays all around!! I love this post. So true, all of it. The slow awakening...
Posted by: kristen | May 01, 2009 at 10:33 AM
You bring tears to my eyes! While in some ways it's so nice to be at this stage (4 & 8 here) it is hitting home just how fast it really goes). Everyone says that but wow - now we are living it. It's wonderful, sad and amazing all at the same time! Love ya!
Posted by: Cyndi | May 01, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Happy Birthday to both Jane and Scott. Enjoy the time with your family. :-)
Posted by: Niksmom | May 01, 2009 at 03:16 PM
That is a sweet post. It sounds totally cliche, but wow, time flies and the kids grow up so darn fast. I just realized today that in a couple of months, my oldest is going to be SIX. Can't even believe it!
Posted by: Patty | May 01, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Happy birthdays to your kids! I love eight, for some reason. Maybe because I remember loving being eight. But my eight-year-old just seems so on the edge of childhood to me--still a kid, but so smart and "with it" now too. Outgrowing some of the stuff that made him a difficult little boy at times (super high energy/distractibility) and turning into a really cool big kid. Sniff.
On the other hand, my five-year-old treats us all like village idiots. He's like a preteen girl trapped in a little boy's body. I'm hoping it'll settle down a bit by the time he reaches six.
Posted by: Meagan Francis | May 02, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Mine will be 8 and 5 at this time next year! Right now we're 7 and 4.
Posted by: Kyla | May 03, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Those are also very fun ages! You can take them just about anywhere and have adventures without strollers and extra diapers and bottles to lug around... and so many kid-friendly places are PERFECT for those ages! It'll be a fun couple of years for you!
Posted by: Nicki | May 04, 2009 at 08:07 PM