Yesterday, I had a lightbulb moment while I was busy preparing my kids’ lunches. It dawned on me just how many ways I still treat my not-so-little ones like toddlers. (For context, my children are almost 11 and 13 years old.) While watching them grow has been a bittersweet journey for a mom with the mentality of a perpetually young adolescent, you’d think I’d be more than ready to let go of those early years and celebrate their independence. But here I am, still holding on to some old habits:
- I still peel their oranges. Seriously, what am I doing?
- I continue to pour their milk. I mean, who even drinks milk at this age?
- I start the shower for my son to warm up the water. Really?
- I give them a sniff as they walk by to check for odor. Gross, right?
- I go all mushy over their scrapes. Come on, just grab a band-aid already!
- I still serve my son’s meals. I can see doing that for a pet, but for a ten-year-old? Mercy!
But today marks a change. I’m proud to say I packed unpeeled oranges in their lunches—one small step towards their independence!
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In summary, while I still have some toddler-like tendencies when it comes to my big kids, I’m making strides towards encouraging their independence. Just like the oranges in their lunch, it’s all about taking those little steps.