The Summer They Still Belonged to Me

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Eight, six, five, and three years old — those are the ages of my four boys this summer. In some ways it seems like I have very “big kids,” and in other ways its seems like they are all still so young. They are big enough to no longer need naps, no more diaper changes required, strollers are unnecessary, and many of the other restraints of baby-hood no longer apply to my kiddos. Yet, they are still young enough to be content with just us — with just me and their brothers and the long days of summer spent together. While they still love to have friends over and attend VBS at our local church, they don’t “need” it the way I assume older children do, the way they will one day.

As my boys have grown from toddlers to preschool ages and into just plain “kids”, I have noticed the slow and steady pull of them needing more of the world and less of me. As a brand new mom, I was once told the best gifts you can give your kids are roots and wings. At the time, my infant son would scream his head off if I even left the room; but now, at almost 9 years old, his wings are spreading more every day, and I can feel it. It’s okay … it is in fact part of the “job,” part of the journey of motherhood, to love him with such fullness that he knows he is ready to leave. Thank goodness this doesn’t happen overnight, or I might be a wreck! 

Eighteen Summers: It’s All We Get” was a blog post shared by many Facebook friends, and after reading it I realized that there may be 18 summers I get with my boys, but far less of them will be like this one. Friends will become more important, camps more desired, and their little wings will want to stretch past the limits of my constant company. 

But this summer, this summer, they are all still mine and I am basking in the light of this moment. I am soaking it all in and feeling the fullness of what it means to have all my little chicks in my nest, every day, every night, because they are content here. We plot out our days and fill them with pool time, the library, hiking trails, new travel destinations, and plenty of lazy days spent at home listening to it rain outside and cuddling up with books.

These sweet mama boys are all mine. Although the world beckons them, for right now in this sweet season of summertime, they are happy with the simplicity of a summer of togetherness. 

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Alli N
Alli is a Birmingham native who always knew she wanted to be a mommy to many, but had no idea that would turn into many little boys! While being a "boy mom" was not what she expected, you will now find her trudging through the woods and happily exploring everything "outdoors" with her brood of little men. Happily married to a builder, you might find that her Google searches reveal a never-ending list of home improvements, which leads to lots of screen shots and "Let's do this next" text messages. When not chasing around her boys, you can find her off on a long run, drinking coffee, going out for a girls' night, or wandering the aisles of the most wonderful place on earth, Target.

2 COMMENTS

  1. You are wise beyond your years!!! Rock on great mama! The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! ….Michael barnes mom, Jeanne

    • Thanks so much for commenting! so great to hear from you, I hope your family is doing great! I’m definitely not the mom who has it all together, but I’m trying to cherish every minute of his sweet time I have with them ?

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