Growing Up Is Hard To Do

The other day Brody asked for a drink of "7 Cherry Up". It made me giggle. I just love the little things that come out of his mouth. I gave him a little squeeze and said, "Brody, please don't ever grow up." As I proceeded to get his drink of 7 Cherry Up, I turned around to give it to him and found him standing there with tears brimming in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Mommy. I just don't think I'll be able to stop."

Oh. Wow. This child is so very sweet. It just really broke his heart to think I would be disappointed in the fact that he would indeed grow up and there was just nothing he could do about it. He is definitely my most sensitive child.

Matt has always instructed the kids to not grow up. Each of them has responded to this instruction in a way that completely matches their personality.

When Jordan was told not to grow up, she responded with frustration. "Daddy, I have to grow up!" She has always been in a hurry. She is always waiting for that next stage in her life to happen. She's a high (read nervous) energy person, who needs to be moving constantly. She is "hurry up and wait" in action. And because of this high energy existence, she can crash harder than anyone I've ever seen. She has put herself to bed ever since she was little. She just goes and goes all day, but when she's done, she's done! She sleeps like the dead. In fact, the smoke alarms don't even wake her up in the night. (I know this because several years ago, due to an apparent malfunction, they were going off every few nights . She never woke up once!)

When Devin was told not to grow up, she responded with a simple, "Okay." Easy peasy. That's my Devin. Not hard to get along with and willing to please. She is definitely not in a hurry to grow up. Doesn't want to date or go to dances. She would still ask me to pick out her clothes and do her hair if she thought she could get away with it. And yet, she is a human oxymoron, because her soul was born a 35 year old. She's the least silly kid you'll ever meet. She quietly tolerates her childhood, waiting patiently for her friends to catch up to her.

And then there's Aiden. When her dad instructed her to not grow up, she responded with a cheeky, "Whatever." In other words, talk to the hand. Aiden lives in the moment. And she really can't be bothered with the philosophies of life. She wants to be doing something "fun" all the time. She is my most girly of the girls. She invited Miley Cyrus to her next birthday party, wants her hair curled every day, and has wardrobe issues. She told me a while ago that we needed to go shopping for new shirts. I showed her all the shirts in her closet and she responded with, "Uh, yeah, Mom? Those really aren't cute clothes." Apparently I'm going to have to start shopping at Old Navy or Target or one of those other fancy schmancy stores I'm too lazy to drive to. Clearly the $3 WalMart t-shirts just aren't cutting it anymore.

It is evident my children will continue to grow up, despite their being commanded not to. I do actually look forward to their growing up in so many ways, even getting excited about the prospect of grandkids in the not so distant future. And yet, if I could stop time, I honestly think I would. I love the phase of life we are in right now. Teenagers to hang out with and little people to cuddle with.

If my husband told me to stop growing up right now, I, for one, would obey.