my winter sunshine

Filed under: Kids, around the house — admin at 6:06 pm on Friday, February 15, 2008

It’s hard to believe that my winter sunshine is now 7.

Simon, 5months

Simon, 2.5 years

Simon, 7 years

I know all of you can relate to the tears I have in my eyes just looking at the above photos.

Now more than ever I feel like I have to start the “letting go” process. You know, stop helping him blow his nose or pull up his pants or reminding him to gather his school library books or not trying to make things “right” with mean kids and their comments or wiping his face.

But I do know, there are more complex conversations, more of me listening and not explaining, more responsibility, more independence and trust, more pride, more patience, and more of me wanting to be his support…

13 Comments »

Comment by Mimi

February 15, 2008 @ 7:10 pm

Happy Birthday! Many Years!

(I have a February baby too!)

Comment by Courtney

February 15, 2008 @ 9:22 pm

what a beautiful boy…

Comment by ShackelMom

February 15, 2008 @ 10:12 pm

What a fine boy he is! But go ahead and pull his pants up… he’s only seven! :-) Sure goes fast, doesn’t it? There’s a book coming for him, by the way!

Comment by Ashleigh

February 15, 2008 @ 10:29 pm

Happy Birthday Simon!

Comment by Great Aunt Gretchen

February 15, 2008 @ 11:33 pm

Carol,
I heard an idea once, that seems appropriate here. A mom got one apron her size, for each of her kids. As the kids grew, there were times that mom had to “cut the apron strings”. She would put on the apron that stood for the child. She would let her child actually cut off an inch of one of her apron ties. She wrote in permanent ink on the piece, what the occasion was and put it in her child’s scrapbook. So the scrapbook might look like this:
Dec, 06 -let him walk to the store alone
Feb. 07-let him choose …
Apr. 07-rode his bike to…

Fun idea.
Aunt Gretchen

Comment by carolyn

February 16, 2008 @ 3:07 am

Happy birthday to Simon! But I bet he’ll still want you to help him with some stuff, so don’t let him be tooooo independent… :)

Comment by Ali

February 16, 2008 @ 9:45 am

Happy Birthday Simon. Parenting a boy this age is trickier than I’d imagined. You’re right – it’s about letting go but in a controlled way and I find myself lurching from one extreme to the other without seeming to find the happy balance.

Growing up is such a big thing.

Comment by Kimberly Lennert

February 17, 2008 @ 1:53 pm

Happy Birthday SImon. I love the pictures and cannot believe it was 7 years ago that I had the honor of watching you enter this world! We will celebrate this week! I hope you feel better sweet boy!
Aunt Kim

Comment by David Sidebotham

February 18, 2008 @ 9:13 pm

simon:

Thank you for inviting us over to your house to enjoy your birthday cake. It is always nice to be with you!

Nana & Papa

Comment by nichelle

February 20, 2008 @ 6:05 pm

happy birthday, to your little man…i can still smell my little guy’s funky baby neck…he’s now three:(

Comment by PlanningQueen

February 25, 2008 @ 9:04 am

I love the symbolism in Aunt Grechen’s comment. As a mum we have to walk a fine line, between supporting them and letting them be self reliant. I think I am getting better at staying on that line, but it is so easy to fall off!

Comment by chris

February 25, 2008 @ 9:04 pm

Happy Labor Day Carol! Happy Birthday Simon!

The Gonzales-Aden’s

chris, christy, Elea and Pablo

Comment by karen

March 3, 2008 @ 1:15 pm

oh. the letting go. it’s so hard. my oldest is nearly thirteen. i cry sometimes that so much has already passed us by and try to console myself by thinking of all there is to look forward to. having two much younger ones in the house helps too, as there is still someone to “baby”.

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