As a parent who has children with 4-1/2 years between the oldest and the youngest, I often felt as though we sometimes lived in different worlds. It isn't quite so bad right now with all of them being teens, but the year Robert was in high school and Thomas was still in elementary it was very tough. When they were very little I often felt Robert didn't always get to do things some of his peers might have been doing because we still had a little one around, and with Thomas I often felt he was exposed to things sooner than I would've liked since he was the youngest. It is a fact of life with parenting though.
Right now though, I am watching Thomas live with feet in both worlds. It suddenly dawned on me the other day how long it had been since any of his stuffed dogs had come off his bed and out into our living room to "visit" with us. It wasn't that long ago that the first question he used to ask when getting in the door at the end of the day was "How are the puppies?" When I realized this the other day, my eyes began to tear up. I know that some of is has to do with the fact that we now have our sweet Abby, and a real dog is so much better than one that isn't. I also know though, that he is growing up and those just aren't going to be the part of his life that they used to be. I know that is a good thing, but oh it breaks my heart a little.
I mentioned it to him this weekend that I hadn't seen the dogs lately. It was so cute because when he got up Sunday morning, he decided he needed to bring one out to me. Thomas had a friend spend the night Sunday evening and there was a lot of "boy" things they did, but they aren't little boys anymore...they are definitely teens on their way to becoming young men. I am so grateful for the people my kids are becoming, and I'm grateful to get to experience each phase, but I sure do miss my chubby cheek little boy, and his young siblings!
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