24 Signs Your Kids Are All Grown Up

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You might not need a birthday cake to tell you your kids are no longer little. Here are some real indicators that those tiny tots have transformed into big kids.

1. You feel pretty in-the-know about the latest apps and social media, even if your only connections are pre-teens who can’t drive yet.
2. Your grocery cart has ditched the giant boxes of Goldfish crackers. While you’ll miss those tasty snacks, you won’t miss the crumbs that get everywhere.
3. Your ouchies now get regular Band-Aids instead of the character-themed ones that used to magically soothe your little ones.
4. You find yourself reminiscing about kids’ meal deals. Dining out now means paying for full-price meals, but you take pride in your daughter’s adventurous taste for mahimahi with fancy sauce.
5. You officially have the smallest feet in the family.
6. Your kids, however, are eyeing shoes that cost more than yours!
7. White socks have become your arch-nemesis. You’ve even considered using a Sharpie to color-code them.
8. When you open a door for your kids, they can’t just walk under your arm anymore. You now have to hold the door open like you’re welcoming an adult. It’s a bittersweet milestone, trust me.
9. No more fruit snacks or Dum Dums in your bag for bribing or distracting your kids. Now, your stash of fives does the trick.
10. Your purse is filled with $5 bills, ready to be handed out for movies or fun activities. You’ve thought about giving it an ATM logo.
11. A mysterious stink seems to have taken over your life—it’s in your car, your house, everywhere. Nothing seems to eliminate it.
12. You’ve had complete text conversations with your kids while they’re just a few rooms away.
13. Math homework? Forget it. You don’t understand it, and you’ve accepted that.
14. Playdates—sorry, I mean hangouts—are now organized through text without your involvement. You’re no longer in charge of their social calendars.
15. You can almost always go to the bathroom alone. It’s just as glorious as you remember.
16. It’s been over a year since you’ve stepped on a Lego—thank goodness!
17. Your dog has been restored to a pre-kid status with more walks and playdates. You briefly thought about getting them a cute outfit, but hesitated, fearing it might be too much.
18. The yogurt in your fridge is no longer adorned with cartoon characters.
19. You’ve actually been annoyed when your kids sleep in too late.
20. Your attic is cluttered with items your kids haven’t used in years, but you’re unsure what to do with it all.
21. You don’t panic when a curse word slips out of your mouth anymore.
22. You’ve caught yourself saying, “When the kids leave…” at least once.
23. You’ve had at least one conversation with your kid that was so engaging, you forgot they were your child for a moment, and you even imagine future chats as adults.
24. You’re feeling a whirlwind of emotions—happy, sad, proud, and heartbroken—all at once about how much your kids have grown. It’s a confusing but perfectly okay feeling.

If you’re interested in exploring more about parenting or family dynamics, check out our other blog post here. For those on a journey of fertility, Make a Mom offers great insights. Plus, IVF Babble is an excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.

In summary, as your kids grow, you’ll notice a mix of nostalgia and pride. While you may miss the days of little ones, there’s so much joy in watching them become independent individuals.