He doesn’t really fit here any more. All limbs and bone. My nearly-eight-year-old boy, sitting in my lap. This used to be his space. A place he’d often crawl into, arms around my neck as his little body curled into mine. His three year old brother still fits in that space. All cosy and content.
But despite his size, my big boy has chosen to sit here. His weight awkwardly leaning against me. His legs jangling against mine. And I don’t mind. Not one bit. We both laugh at how absurd it is, but neither of us move.
I get nostalgic this time of year. The end of school sees them a year older, a year brighter, a year taller, a year wiser. My first baby is heading into grade three and it seems impossible. Middle school. Growing up.
On the rare occasions we have time just together, it’s so very lovely. When he can talk a break from talking about Pokemon, he’s funny and engaging, full of ideas and opinions. I can start to see who he will become.
Not so long ago I was fearing what school would bring. I wondered whether either of us would be up to the task. When he started Prep it just seemed so busy compared to what we were used to. Lunches and notes and readers and homework to juggle. There were new friends for both of us to make. New, unwritten rules to figure out.
I don’t really remember my own first year of school. There are hazy memories of a stuffy classroom and a teacher’s skirts. The tiny counting blocks that I was terrified of because all hell would break loose if we accidentally lost them. Soggy sandwiches, unaccompanied by an ice brick. All of it just random scraps with no narrative to link them.
But I remember grade three so clearly.
We have come to the point where my memories intersect with his experience. My clear memories of large stretches of time begin at about 8. I recall not only events but exactly how I felt during them. The elation that went with winning a competition and having it announced on assembly. The sting of being rejected by a friend. Struggling with some aspects of school and flying through others. The first poems I wrote. My first memories as I know my personality begin around eight years old.
When he feels hurt, I am immediately hurled back to when I was hurt at that age. When he’s ridiculously silly with his friends, I remember the eight year old boys in my life who were exactly the same. When he’s happy, I can clearly recall that contentment. When his friend casually throws his arm around his shoulder, I remember how that felt. The strength of those friendships and the simple happiness of acceptance. And when he crawls into my lap, I can remember the comfort of my own mother’s embrace. And I want it to last forever.
How are your end of year feels going?
Oh how beautiful, Robyna. My six year old is getting too big for my lap too, but that won’t stop me cuddling her. I’ve had a few tears of happiness as the year is drawing to a close. I’ve missed a few big events due to work, but some lovely mums have captured moments on film for me. #teamIBOT
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It’s always hard when that happens- and it will happen a bit for me next year. Thank goodness for friends with cameras!
Right in the feels, Robyna. For me, it’s watching my girls and next year, stepson, in high school. Oh, the emotions they go through. I still have miss 4 to snuggle with for a while yet xx
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I can imagine high school will be that much harder, being so easy to remember. Enjoy those four year old cuddles.
When I took the 12 year old to a play, he wrapped his arm around mine as we sat down – it was so nice. It didn’t last long but those moments are so special.
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Definitely moments to treasure. PS I tried to comment on your blog and it never seems to let me 🙁 But I love the idea of the wheel and always appreciating the little things.
This is so beautiful. I was only thinking the other day as my four year old sat in my lap that I need to take in these moments as it will be all too soon that he outgrows wanting to sit with me like this. He finished kindy last week so it’s ALL of the feels here before he goes to prep next year.
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That’s definitely ALL the feels. Good luck with the transition and enjoy your time with your beautiful family before the crazy starts up again.
My 16 year old son is definitely too old to sit in my lap and has been for years but we still have loads of cuddles as I do with all three of my kids! I’m getting really nostalgic with him and his sister having just entered year 12. I’m wondering what changes the end of next year will bring after the HSC is over!
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I hope mine are still cuddly at 16. Good luck for the next, exciting chapter.
I get quite nostalgic at this time of year too. Watching the kids grow and move on towards another year. I long for my care-free childhood days, and hope that my kids will look back with (mostly) fond memories.
That’s my big wish too – I really hope that are making lots of happy memories with them.
Oh I have SO many end of year feels, as my Little Mister finished kindy (his first official year of school) yesterday. I feel sentimental and overwhelmed with gratitude to his teachers and I feel so proud of him and also relieved the year is over (I won’t lie) haha. I’m also proud of myself for transforming from a nervous wreck of a new school mum, to a more confident, settled in school mum.
What a year!
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That IS a big year. It’s so wonderful (and hard) seeing them grow up. And having to do some more growing up ourselves as we move into the different phases of motherhood.
My 20 year old has just decided she is off to live in the UK next February, so my feels are very heightened. I cannot stop thinking of her as a baby, and remembering all the special times we have had. Plenty of tears while remembering lovely Christmas memories. xx
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I don’t think I’ll ever stop thinking of them as my babies.
This is so beautiful, Robyna. I think as a parent, your kids are always your babies, no matter how old or how big they are! That’s what my mum tells me anyway 🙂
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That’s the truth – they will always be my babies. Although the very grown up three year old gets upset when I tell him that.
My son had his school orientation today, he will be our first and our last child to start school…so I’m feeling all the feels
That’s definitely a big one – thinking of you.