eleven

Because birthdays come but once a year and because this little blog has always been about more than paint swatches and pillows, I'm sharing a little bit from my heart today.

Today my son is eleven.

ELEVEN!

I think I'm in shock.

I look at him like Steve Martin looks at his daughter in Father of the Bride when she tells him at the dinner table that she's in love and she's getting married. Do you know what scene I'm referring to? I love that scene. It's so true when you become a parent too. I will always see my son, no matter how old he really is, as the sweet little toddler holding a train in each hand everywhere he goes.

He'll forever be my baby. And while there is truth to that, there's also the reality that he's growing up right before my very eyes. He's becoming a man a little more every single day. His foot is the same size as mine! He's barely shorter than I am! The kid I had to beg or force feed to finish his dinner now eats me under the table. He willingly eats his vegetables.....and even orders spinach salads (as a starter) when we eat at a restaurant! He's growing and changing every day.........and it's a privilege to have a front row seat.

To know him is a blessing. To be his mother is a gift.

shirt, shorts, shoes

Mothering a smart, independent kid has it's challenges.

I often tell him, it's not about what you become it's about who you become that matters most.

This year has been an interesting one to say the least. Navigating through all the life stuff that comes at this time in a young person's life is so different from the parent side. It's like walking a tight rope - on the one hand you want to protect them from all the hard stuff, the hurtful stuff that comes from navigating life at this young age, but on the other hand you want them to learn how to deal with things on their own. It's a parenting balancing act, and at the end of the day you just pray you're doing it right.

At 11, my son is kind, tender hearted, responsible and compassionate. I don't just love him, I like him and I really enjoy spending time with him.

Admittedly I get bogged down with the day to day tasks sometimes - making lunches, checking homework, double checking that he's brushed his teeth......with toothpaste - and it often takes a special day, like today, to gently remind me to cherish the in-between moments as much as the momentous ones.

So today I'll celebrate 11 years of motherhood. Eleven years of life with this sweet boy. Eleven years of those adorable dimples. Eleven years of his hugs and snuggles. I'll cherish the memories of the days we've had and the moments we've shared. I'll remember the day he was born and how he was the most beautiful newborn baby I've ever seen (no offense to my daughter but even the nurses said it was so). And I'll thank God for the privilege of being his mother and for the responsibility of raising one of His sons.

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