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ATOT parents

B

Bryophyte

Lifer
Does anyone else ever feel really sad that their kids are growing up? I'm packing up my daughter's wooden dollhouse to give to her old kindergarten teacher for her classroom, and it's making me feel just terrible. I miss my kids being little. Their childhoods seem to be going by so fast, before I know it, they'll be all grown up. I turn 40 next year and don't know how I'm going to handle it. Turning 30 sucked, I'm guessing 40 will be much worse.

Someone cheer me up. I'm having a terrible day. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Look at the bright side, it's still at least another 10 or so years before ATOT ask for pics of daughter. 😀
Click to expand...

She's 8. I expect the pervs around here to start asking in another five. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Look at the bright side, it's still at least another 10 or so years before ATOT ask for pics of daughter. 😀
Click to expand...

She's 8. I expect the pervs around here to start asking in another five. 😉
Click to expand...

Ah, I thought she was much older.
 
Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Look at the bright side, it's still at least another 10 or so years before ATOT ask for pics of daughter. 😀
Click to expand...

She's 8. I expect the pervs around here to start asking in another five. 😉
Click to expand...

I spoke too fast, I see.
 
ack.. my older daughter just started kindergarten. that was more of an adjustment for us as parents than for her.
 
Am not a parent but for some reason I recall my childhood better than most folks.

Give them a hug and kiss and a nice little trinket to help them remember you.
All I hear every day from parents and grandparents is how much they love their little ones and how proud of them they are and other gooey stuff.
NO ONE ever stops to think about how the little ones percieve them.

Do something to help yourself really stick in their brains. It might not be much at all, but the rewards you get back will be sweeter.

I remember spending many happy summers with my American grandparents and doing lots of cool things with them.
I didnt spend nearly as much time with my Canadian grandparents and (sadly) I really dont have that many awesome memories.

Make the effort NOW, while their brains are still young and stuff sticks better. Believe me, when they hit 16 they wont care much for your love, attention, advice or anything.
But if they have those pleasant memories from childhood locked in tight they'll still be OK.

Trust me, I know. I do not have nostalgia. I have a very clear recollection of all the times I recieved love and scorn. I'd like to have a lot more love memories and a few less scorn memories.

And little kids are easy. A trip to the park with a dog and a ball might last a life time.
 

I know the feeling, 40 here with three kids.

Take it as an opportunity to guide them into the next stage of their life.

YMCA Guides I recently got involved in this Father/Child progrm with my two youngest. It's an excellent program that allows you to spend quality time with your kids. I wish i would of known about it earlier.
 
Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Look at the bright side, it's still at least another 10 or so years before ATOT ask for pics of daughter. 😀
Click to expand...

She's 8. I expect the pervs around here to start asking in another five. 😉
Click to expand...

Don't worry, you'll be too old by then to figure out how to use the camera.


/rimshot


😀
 
I know what you are saying here. Although I am in the reverse role of being the kid that moved away. My parents are great parents.. and still married which I am thankful for, because I hear the line, "My parents are divorced" from way too many people. I actually felt bad leaving them because first it was my sister and then it was me. But there's nothing in that town for me really, my future needs a bigger city because of my college/career choice. I know they were sad seeing me go, especially because it was just 2 years after my sister left. They know that there were no schools for me in my hometown but I also helped ease it a little in junior high, about 8th grade I told them I was not going to go to an in-state college.

My dad constantly mentions how we grew up so fast and I have to say, looking back, all those years were gone very quick. If I had a chance to go back to my childhood I would because I loved those years when I didn't know about the world.
 
Count yourself lucky she's still that age. In a few years you might get the same "joy" I received when my 17yr old graduating senior announced she was preggers
 
Originally posted by: racolvin
Count yourself lucky she's still that age. In a few years you might get the same "joy" I received when my 17yr old graduating senior announced she was preggers
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Refer to my post above
 
My son turned 11 in July. He started middle school this year, or what I like to call the "Year he stops being an innocent kid.".

Life lessons are already smacking him in the face this school year. He's changing by the day. No longer the "little guy" I love.

But I take pride and pleasure in watching him become the young man he is.

All I can do is guide him and offer advice and pray he doesn't turn out like some of the other kids I see today. Middle school is a different, more violent, connected (internet) and dangerous place than when I was in.

Although part of me can't wait for him to grow up so I can see what kind of man he'll be, another part of me wants to keep him at this age for the rest of his life. Where he's independent for the most part, but still needs "his Daddy". 🙁

EDIT: One thing I did learn fast, part of the reason we as parents think they "grow up so fast" is becasue we tend to get trapped in thinking they're still 5 when they're 6, 7, or 8. We dwell on it, not necessarily on purpose, but to try and keep them young I suppose. Then one day we realize all the time has passed and we readjust to their current age and demeanor and repeat the "hanging on to the past" process all over again.
 
My oldest just went into junior high this year, and the youngest just started kindergarten.
I think you already know by now that time goes by faster the older you get 😉
 
This is the reason my wife wants another kid.

I told her if she can show me a 3 child family with a normal 'middle' child I'm game. She came from a 3 child family and has been unable to find a normal middle child. In the alternative, if she could guarantee we wouldn't have another boy I would be game. Boys seem to be a little more stubborn than girls. I have to go home today and have a talk with my older boy (almost 5) about his aggressive playhouse behavior in preschool.
 
yeah I understand your feeling OP. The cliche of "the grow up so fast" is so painfully true (granted sometime you do just wish they'd grow the hell up already 🙂)
Oldest started 1st grade this year. Its bitter sweet. You're so proud of them on their new accomplishments and endeavors but you realize that every day they get more and more independent and don't need you more and more (it was dumbfounding when my kids started getting their own cups of milk, snacks etc...)

We have gobs of family photos the flick by as our PC and TV screensavers... there's always some great picture of when they were younger and it nearly breaks your heart to see them like that. You just have to enjoy EVERY moment no question.

However I have to ask, you're giving away her dollhouse and she's still that young? Give it a week and she's going to ask for it back.


 
I'm actually kind of the opposite. I'm just waiting for my 7 month old to get old enough where I can really interact and communicate with her.

And by that point I'll be wishing she was still immobile and would smile at something as simple as a funny face or making noises.

Doh.
 
Originally posted by: vi edit
I'm actually kind of the opposite. I'm just waiting for my 7 month old to get old enough where I can really interact and communicate with her.

And by that point I'll be wishing she was still immobile and would smile at something as simple as a funny face or making noises.

Doh.
Click to expand...

Yeap that's a whole other stage.
 
Originally posted by: RKS
This is the reason my wife wants another kid.

I told her if she can show me a 3 child family with a normal 'middle' child I'm game. She came from a 3 child family and has been unable to find a normal middle child. In the alternative, if she could guarantee we wouldn't have another boy I would be game. Boys seem to be a little more stubborn than girls. I have to go home today and have a talk with my older boy (almost 5) about his aggressive playhouse behavior in preschool.
Click to expand...

I'm the middle child from a three child family and I... oh. Nevermind.

😛
 
I have a 16 month old and it kinda cool that he's leaning to "HI-five" wave "bye bye". He pretty independent at daycare and likes to do his own thing.
The other week I broke out my kite at the park. The little booger came up to me and sat down next to my feet and stared with amazement at the kite. Such a cool moment.

God.....I'm gonna hate it so much when he starts talking back.
 
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