Keeping up with my kids, they’re growing so fast!

I remember when my kids, especially my boys were little and I’d be exhausted every day, double bathing, double feeding, running after 2 busy bodies; older mothers would tell me to enjoy it because time flies. Guess what? Time flew.

Thinking back, we would enjoy lunch picnics in the garden, evening swims and story time in bed with all 3 of them cuddled up. We’d spend time baking together or me sitting outside watching them do the same tricks on their bikes 10 times over.

When my kids started growing into teens

And then, with no warning at all, there was facial hair and voices breaking, shopping in adult sizes and showering 3 times a day. My daughter suddenly bloomed into a young lady, almost overnight. And I was no longer in control, no longer in charge of bedtime and no longer able to make all their decisions for them. Bedroom doors are closed, and the house is quiet, but for the occasional sounds of YouTube or TikTok. That’s when I realised that there aren’t many years left with them as they are; I need to keep in touch with them. Sounds basic and obvious, doesn’t it?

What my kids have taught me

It isn’t really. Kids of today have a lot more going on in their lives than we did. They have access to so much information and we need to keep with the times. (Just don’t get a TikTok account unless you want to become epileptic) Each kid has different interests so I’m learning about cars and engines and rims. I can pretty much name any car and tell you the amount of torque it has. I’ve watched many, many “how-to” videos and I think I’d be able to change my own tyre. (Probably not but the guy in the video said if you have the right tools, you can do anything)

I’ve watched all the Marvel movies and have absolutely no clue of what went on and who’s still alive. Mind you, some of them died and came back and some were bad and turned good but then there was a talking raccoon and a God with a hammer. My daughter tries to explain the plot, shame. She is a tomboy as I was and insists on wearing baggy clothes and sneakers for every occasion (I understand my mother’s anguish now).  My sons and their father share clothes, shoes and even perfume so everyone smells the same.

They are such different personalities that there is much arguing about non-life-and-death-issues like whether drinking protein shakes helps build huge muscles and who’s friends are dumber than the other.

It’s all fun and games until someone has to unpack the dishwasher.

I’m guessing that their interests will change over time as my mothering them has changed. I will take an interest no matter what it is, be supportive and engaged for as long as I can. And as they get older, I hope that my effort to keep connected to each of them makes them realise how special they each are and how much they each have to offer the world.

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