The Things They Learn

As I lie awake in bed this morning, looking at the darling boy who had crawled into bed with me, I realized something.  Kids grow up.  Okay, so this is news to no one.  Still, I think sometimes we need to be reminded of it.

My husband and I have four delightful children, ranging in age from ten to three years.  For the first time in what seems like forever, no one is nursing, no one needs to snuggle to sleep with Mommy or Daddy, no one (usually) crawls into our bed in the middle of the night (morning snuggles are a different story), and no one - I repeat, no one -wears diapers. Even at night, NO DIAPERS!

Hal. Le. Lu.  Jah.

The crazy thing is...  With this last kid, we really didn't try to wean him or teach him to stay in his bed all night or use the potty or stay dry all night.  It just kind of... happened.  We encouraged, but didn't push.  He reached a certain age and there it was...  No more nursing, no more diapers, no more sneaking into our bed at one in the morning.  While we were busy wondering when he would learn to let go of these things, he let them go, with little help from us.

Anyway, kids grow up.  They get a little older, a little more independent, and before you know it, all the things you thought would never end, do.

For example:

1. Children grow to fall asleep without Mommy or Daddy.
2. Children grow to ask for a hug without asking to nurse.
3. Children grow to stay in their beds all night long, (even if they still crawl in between Mommy and Daddy for morning snuggles).
4. Children grow to use the toilet, and then they learn to do it without being reminded.
5. Children grow to stay dry through the night.
6. Children grow to run and play, rather than hug Mommy's leg.
7. Children grow to do what bigger children do.  (You can neither force nor prevent this one).
8. Children grow to help themselves.
9. Children grow to express themselves, and in ways that will blow your mind.
10. Children grow to call you Mom. Just plain, all grown-up, Mom. 

Of course, there are many more milestones than these. It just struck me this morning that all the things we parents so often struggle to teach our children -from sleeping to talking to weaning to toilet training to... pretty much everything - they generally figure out in the course of time, regardless of the fervor of our efforts.  Perhaps despite our fervor, they grow to do the things we big people do.

So I guess my point is this:  If you are looking at your young child, wondering when, oh when, they will figure out this or that life skill, relax, Mom.  They'll grow up, whether or not you're ready for them to do so.

Apparently, they learn to button their shirts, too.