Each phase

Before I had children, I remember a co-worker who has a son several years older than my oldest (and an only child) that she was telling me how there was something to enjoy about each phase of her child's life. I remember at the time wondering what on earth there could possibly be to enjoy about the phases once they were out of the cute and cuddly phase, and especially once they were into the preteen and teenager phase. But my children have definitely taught me the joys of each phase. Of course I enjoyed the cute and cuddly phase, and HT still likes to curl up with me and enjoy a book or watch a little TV, and I love that he does. But now I'm also enjoying their independence. When my husband and I were sick at the end of January, not only did the kids not really need us to take care of them in the evening, they were a huge help in taking care of us. And of course with their additional freedom comes a little bit of freedom for us adults, as we are able to carve out chunks of time where we can run to the grocery store, or even grab a quick bite to eat without taking the kids along. Now, though, my oldest will be 13 this year. I always wondered, mostly with a great deal of trepidation, what this phase was going to bring. And in several conversations with JR in the last month, I am so excited about it! He is definitely going to experience the normal teenage angst, no matter how much I wish none of my children had to deal with that. But in talking to us, he's pretty philosophical about things, and recognizes that some kids just aren't that nice, and he can't control that. Hearing him talk about his perspective and being able to share his feelings, oh, I was just so proud of him. I made sure to tell him that too, because I want him to be able to share these things with us, especially as things may get rougher into the teenage years. He's also developing quite a sense of humor and we've had several laughs over things. I am so loving watching the person that he is becoming, and I know that I'll feel the same way about the other two as they enter this phase. I understand now, how there is something to love about each phase (still not convinced on the starting-to-drive phase though)!