Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Parental Ponderings

Well, today was the day.

The day I fully entered into a new stage of parentage.

Up to this point it had only been an idea.

A consultation here.

A starting "plan" there.

Now we're talking commitment.

Today, I walked across the threshold of the orthodontist's door, plunked an $800 down payment on the counter, and begin serving my time in the waiting room chair.

I walked out with a Girl who had four, itty-bitty, teeny-tiney, blue plastic, rubber bands between four teeth.

They look a lot like the ones I buy at Walmart for 50 cents per gross, but what do I know about Orthodontia?

Apparently, they do these things in phases. We've only just begun.

(cue Karen Carpenter)

It may sound like I am complaining. Really, I'm not.

It's just....(and this is gonna sound weird)...but, sometimes I wonder how I got here?

I don't feel old enough to have kiddos that require fixed appliances.

I don't feel mature enough to be driving a suburban-white mini-van and talking to my "babies" about puberty.

I guess its because I still have moments when children barge into the bathroom while I'm in the shower. They still know that the best time to ask me for something their not supposed to have is when I'm distracted on the phone. We're still in the stage of interrupted conversations and wanting to be "checked in on" at night. (That's code for being "tucked in")

But then there are times when I realize I'm in a whole new ball field, and this ain't little league.

For instance, last week I left the kids at home while I hurried to an appointment. In my haste I accidently spilled the contents of my purse on the school room floor. I quickly scooped up what I thought was all my stuff and scrambled out the door.

Later on that day, The Boy nonchalantly hands me a purple and white packet and says, "Hey mom, you might not want to leave your tampons lying on the floor. I accidently stepped on it and the plastic wrapping made a loud bang and scared us to death. It even scared the dog."

Uh, o-kay.

And who taught you about tampons anyway?

This morning, I reached for my cell phone and the kids had re-arranged all the ringtones and screen savers.

Now when they call me this is what I see:


They laughed and laughed like it was the funniest sight to see.

For those of you who don't know, my son will be a seventh grader next year.

SEVENTH. GRADER.

As in, he'll study Pre-Algebra and will be reading things like Homer and Plato.

Good night! That's just weird.

It seems like just yesterday he was asking me to read How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? for the bagillionth time.

Back then, I always wished (even at times suggested) he'd pick a book that wasn't so familiar, so I could skip pages without him knowing.

Now I'm glad he didn't.

Its going too fast.

Someday I'll look back with tenderness on this silly, somber, fun, agonizing, energetic, talkative, moody, crazy, expensive, lovely time... and miss it.

Well, maybe not the payment plan...but you know what I mean.

19 comments:

Melissa said...

My girl will be in 7th grade next year, too. Too much!

Thanks for the towel. It looks great in my kitchen!

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

There are days I look at my second grader and burst into tears...because she's the only "baby" I've got left. I'm in the same boat you are with two middle schoolers...and I'm not sure how I got in this boat either. And where the heck are the paddles? It goes soooooooo fast.

Tanya said...

*sigh* I am so with you ... only 5-8 years behind.

Carpool Queen said...

Do it well!!! I'm watching so I know what to do when I get there:)

Carrie B said...

Oh I hear ya! My youngest is graduating high school in 8 weeks and I just want to scream WAIT! I'm so not ready.

Hold on, it's a great ride!

Just sayin'

Lori said...

Wow! I know braces will be coming quicker than I'm prepared for as well. Great post!

Amber said...

Sniff.

You've done gone and made me misty. Tampons and all.

Becca @ My Crazy Good Life said...

I was dying laughing at the tampon explosion...

And super sad because those days are just around the corner for me. *tear*

Tracey said...

Living it with you. And it scares me daily.

My baby will be 6 in a few weeks. I made her promise that she will ALWAYS let me hug her. She said OK. (my oldest isn't 'into' that anymore..and I miss her hugs tremendously.)

I honestly don't know if I'm doing this right. So I pray. A LOT. Praying for you too...'cuz this ain't nothing but hard. (sorry to go all southern on you.. :D)

Unknown said...

Too funny! How do boys find out those things????

Jack just got braces last week. I will post a picture of him with his mouth pryed open while they put on his brackets...he wasn't too thrilled of me taking a picture but hey he couldn't move!!!

My fried was holding her little boy the other day and I realized as I watched her that I couldn't pick up my kids anymore...it was a strange feeling...I knew I couldn't pick them up anymore but when I saw her holding her little one....my heart just really fully realized that my kids were too big for that....11, 14, almost 21 :)

Praying for you!

Tiffani said...

oh i can't imagine!! my boy just looks so much bigger every single day and I am flipping that we'll be at double digits with one this year and putting away all things baby-ish for big girly stuff w/ a 6year old...

Makes me want to sing the theme song to Bear in the Big Blue House with him another time and hold her squishy legs tight again...

I have a funny story about tampons from a long time ago when I was a new Mom to 2 kids who were busy and little...Adam came home from work and there were tampons all over the bathroom floor from under the counter and he said "what in the world happened?!" I said "one thought they were rockets and the other thought they were teethers and I had about 20 minutes of peace" and he didn't say another word about it.. ;) So, I wouldn't be surprised if Connor said something very similar to The Boy one day!!

jamjar said...

Funny, sad, true...My boys were always very good at being middle school boys---as in..."He's in middle school...He's very good at it!" How any parents survive is beyond me...but somehow we do! Thankfully!

The Buntens said...

Wow - they do grow up fast, huh?

Seventh grade! Braces! Tampons! ugh - I have to admit that I fear those days a bit.

Cathy said...

Thank you for this reminder! Now I need to do something about it....like snuggle in w/ my soon to be 3rd grader before he wants nothing to do with me.

whimzie said...

It goes by WAY TOO FAST!!! I'm with CPQ. We're watching you...but no pressure.

Just heard from the dentist to expect orthodontia for at least two, possibly all three. (yay)

Gretchen said...

Maybe the boy is studying up to be on the Tampax NASCAR team.

You're the best mom, Kellie.

You really are.

The braces thang...it IS weird. And how is it that I just registered my son for high school? I'm CERTAINLY not old enough for that.

Jenster said...

Speaking to my heart! I wonder if we ever feel like we're where we are suppose to be. My oldest turned 18 yesterday and we're in the middle of college stuff. Bizarro to the nth degree.

(Speaking of college stuff - he decided on Lynchburg. I see a meet up the not so distant future!)

meh said...

Dear friend, if you figure out how to make the days stop rolling by so darn fast, please let me know. It is a lesson to really treasure the stage we are in, because we blink and they are off on a date or we blink and they are rolling out the driveway behind the wheel of our car or we blink and they are making college roommate choices and signing up for classes. ACK!!

Stephanie said...

Thanks for giving me "perspective" with this post. My girls are still small (1 and 3)...still asking me to read Dr. Seuss' ABCs and Pooh's Mailbox over-and-over-and-over again. :)

But I know these days will be over in the blink of an eye...

stephanie@metropolitanmama.net