what's good enough for the first family

f. is growing up before my eyes. there are days when i look at him and barely recognize the little snuggle bug who would eagerly barrel down the hall of the hospital to see me while i was there on bedrest. he would heave himself up into my bed and snuggle in for a cartoon. i frequently wonder how much of that experience, my absence, has shaped the child he is today. it just seems like the sweetness has slipped away all too soon. since he is the oldest, i dont have another child to compare. is this the normal progression of growing up? is first grade the age when it becomes the norm to shun a kiss good-bye from your mom at the bus stop? until today, i had been relegated to fist bumps in public, and only allowed kisses at home. i guess i was caught up in being soo proud that he was no longer clinging to my side to have really digested the fact that i miss those good-bye kisses, even if they were sometimes stolen. i guess i felt like if it was good enough for the first family, it was good enough for us. i guess i felt like i could still sneak in those kisses at home.

then it happened. today my good morning kiss was shunned, instead a fist was offered to bump. my heart broke a little...already?! this afternoon upon wrapping up a trying homework session, i leaned over for another kiss. i really just wanted him to know how much i love him. again, up came the fist for an offer of bumping. did you hear that? my heart is breaking a bit more. so i asked, "bud, whats the problem with giving mommy a kiss when we are at home and no one can see it?" he replied, "mom, i just think that is soo old school!" and there you have it.

overheard in my house recently

during a discussion about college and his plans to attend

f: daddy, i dont think i want to go to the naval academy.
j: thats fine bud. but college is important and when the time comes you will choose a good one i am sure.
f: you and mommy went to college together right?
j: yup.
f: daddy, i dont think mommy knew you were a moron when she met you in college.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

while playing the "who else" game

me: who am i?
m: mama
me: who is that?
m: keegie
me: how about him?
m: finnie
me: who is that?
m: daddy
me: who else is in our family?
m: granny and pop
me: who else?
m: nando, how about nando?
me: yes, nando. how about mommom (MIL) and grumpy (FIL)?
m: who???
me: exactly

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

while all three boys are in the bathtub

m: wee, i getting all queen!
f: gross, m. i can see your booty.
f: m. show some manners would ya?


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

long awaited momentous occasion follows

me: here you go keegs, here is your banana.
k: thank you mama!
me: (quietly crying)