Thursday, September 22, 2011

Always

I try to spend a bit of time with the girls when I tuck them into bed at night. They are usually a bit subdued (unless the Tickle Monster appears) and although our snuggles may only last for a minute or three, it is still alone time. If someone has had a bad day or has been acting up, this is the time when I try to talk to her.

Many, many times, the girls have made it loud and clear that they do not want to get bigger or older. I find it odd considering that they enjoy their independence. I have brushed it off as one of the many phases of childhood.

One day, they wanted to know what was on a girl's teeth in a picture. "Those are braces."

"Will we have to have braces when we're big kids?"

"Maybe, sweetie. We don't know yet." (But you'll definitely have to have some teeth pulled so that all of your adult teeth can fit into your tiny mouth. Sorry about those genetics.)

"NO! I DON'T WANT TO HAVE BRACES."

Or there are the questions about college.

"What is college?"

"It's school after high school."

"Is it for big kids?"

"Yes."

"Will we go to college?"

"Probably. I hope so."

"NO! I DON'T WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE."

Geeeesh.

A few weeks ago, as I was tucking Emily into bed, she asked, "Mommy, when we're bigger will we still be your kids? And when we have kids will we still be your kids?"

"Yes, sweetie. I will always be your Mommy."

She smiled and happily snuggled under her covers, grasping Little Lion in one hand.

In that moment, I realized that they are just trying to figure out life. It's so cliche to say but they really do grow up so fast. I sometimes find it hard to believe that they will be kindergarteners next year. They still make little baby noises when they sleep. They still want to cuddle. They still ask me to hold them. They are still my babies.

7 comments:

Wendy said...

always our babies.<3

That's funny about college-- M&L go to preschool on the campus where Josh and I went to college, so they are REALLY excited to be big kids and go to college like mommy and dad!

EG said...

What a sweet post! This is totally unrelated but I saw this video on YouTube today and it made me think of you. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GE6zQ8FWok) Have you seen it?

Kayla said...

This is a beautiful post. Very universal questions. I remember my now 7 y/o asking me those same things. She is going through a stage where one minute she wants to be all grown up and the next she is crying because she wants to stay a kid like her 3 y/o sisters.
The good new is that at 7 she still loves to snuggle and cuddle and be reassured. You know, when she isn't being all independent.

Glow said...

That is so incredibly sweet. I feel like this story will stick with me for a very long time. Your girls are adorable.

Just Me said...

Every time I pick my kids up from Daddy's I tell them they grew...and the giggle like crazy and say, "Yes Mommy we're big now!!!", and I say, "But I want you to be my babies!", my little girl caught on, now she says "Yep, I grew a lot, but even when I have babies I'll still be your baby!!!"...brings tears to my eyes every time

Unknown said...

So cute when those questions come around. I remember my little one asking the same things....ahhhh

Sarah said...

Thanks, everyone. I enjoyed reading your comments and experiences.

EG - Yes! we have seen that - I remember when the mom posted it on Triplet Connection years ago.