Parenting stages are so incredible and vastly different.  I’ve been told all along the way that parenting doesn’t get easier, just different.  True, true words.

So right now, my little darlings are 8, 9, and 10.  I’d say we’re about knee-deep into the journey of learning to expand their boundaries, grow their independence, and let them into the decision-making process rather than inform them of the final decision.

Here is where I’m floundering…in the same conversation I can be encouraging them and teaching them more responsibility, then calming tears and giving hugs.  It’s just an odd place to be.  Not bad, just odd.  I’m both “mommy” and the one gradually teaching them to fly.  I’m giving laundry lessons, and filling the emotional cup of the one who needs to cuddle.

Being in between THEIR developmental stages and MY parenting stages… well there’s just a lot of figuring out going on.

These kids…they’re still little.  They want so badly to be big, and it’s my job to teach them what it means to be big: making wise choices, being responsible and kind, being a part of Team O.  So it’s a tricky place to be, and it’s tricky to remember what size they actually are – these kids who just won’t stop growing up on me.

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