Independence

Well yesterday was Independence Day but for me it seems this season has turned into Independence Summer. Over the last six weeks my apron string holding children have not only let go of those strings but have brought out the scissors and cut them off. The rate of their increasing independence astounds me, tickles me and admittedly saddens me. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the ability to send them out back while I cook dinner or out front while I pay bills and vacuum the dog hair. I am also quite fond of the ability to sleep in on the weekends as they happily play upstairs by themselves as I get a few extra ZZZZZs. And as they are on the verge of being able to make their own breakfasts now, hell it won't be long until I am sleeping til noon!

But with more freedom for me, which of course I have been wishing for for years, comes a realization of just how fleeting childhood is. As we set up our blankets last night at the fireworks show, I worried about how we were going to entertain them for two pre-show hours. My fears were quickly doused as each one ran a different direction to find a new friend to play catch or tag with. They checked in every now and then for a drink of water or a hug but they were far more interested in playing with their new friend than their old Mom. And I know that before I can blink an eye those hug check-ins will disappear too.

The majority of my closest friends are either newly pregnant, about to burst or dealing with a child under 1. I do not envy those sleepless nights, 2AM feedings or the harrowing experience of potty training. But I do envy that they are at the beginning of a journey where for a brief period of time, they are the center of someone's universe. As for me, I feel like I just got a lesson from Copernicus about where I stand in my kid's universe and it is no longer smack dab in the middle. So here I am, relegated to planet status hoping that I don't go the way of Pluto anytime soon.