Lamentations of a mother whose children are growing up

When I was a mom of young children, older more experienced mothers would say, "Enjoy them. They grow up so fast." I dismissed their advice because clearly they didn't remember what it was like to have little children and be exhausted all the time and have no personal space and constantly clean up messes that would be made again. Well, guess what? I'm now one of those advice giving mothers. I chuckle at children in the store throwing tantrums. I want to reach out and touch a newborn baby to whom I am not related. The other day a pregnant woman complained about being tired and I laughed. In a public restroom I spoke to a young girl who was with her mother. The girl didn't speak back to me, because I'm a stranger. I remembered wondering why older, strange women would think my child should be polite and gregarious with them.


Do you know what else women with teenagers do? They talk about how mothers of young children have it easy. Having teenagers is hard. It's exhausting mentally. Once they are home from school, my mind is engrossed with their issues. And they leave their stuff in my space when they know better and are capable of putting it away. Then, they insist on making their own choices. About friends, homework, college, marriage.


The other day I cleaned some old spaghetti squash out of the fridge. I reached my hand into the container and plopped the left-overs it into the garbage. I was thinking how I try so hard to feed them healthy food. How they don't appreciate all I do and how I was throwing away this disgusting spaghetti squash because I was the only one who would eat it. I thought about how being a mom is hard. Then a thought touched my heart, "But what a privilege." Yes, what a privilege it's been and still is to love these children. To see them grow and make their own choices. To see the people they are becoming. What a privilege it is to be their mom.