When children grow up #sob
We spent the weekend at hotel in Cornwall that is very popular with families and goes to great lengths to help entertain the kids. The weekend culminated in a Saturday night fancy dress disco. My girls, aged 6, 7 and 9, even talked me into buying some pointy damsel hats from the NHS shop we visited that day, so they would look the part.
I let them put on some of my makeup for the night; pink lipstick, shiny lavender eye shadow and just a trace of brown eyeliner and pulled back their long hair, still sticky after spending the afternoon in the pool, and fastened their princess hats. They looked gorgeous.
We arrived at the disco and soon discovered they were the oldest children there! A load of toddlers were scattered around the hall in worn blue Cinderella dresses and fairy wings. The girls knew many of them, they had made all kinds of two-year-old friends at the playpark, pool and jungle gym that day.
But something about this scene took me waaaay back. All the parents were there, hovering around their offspring, dancing with their little ones. There was a toddler in saggy nappies and a boy in a spider man outfit. A dad sat with his 18-month-old daughter, helping her do the movements to head shoulders knees and toes, holding her hands and helping her to clap them together.
Me and hubby sat back and watched from a distance. My 9-year-old instantly bonded with the girl closest her age, an 8-year-old wearing shorts and a Justin Bieber T-shirt. A two-year-old and her four-year-old sister showed up in Hello Kitty pajamas. The parents were dressed nicely, and looked like they were going to put the kids to bed and then head out to dinner.
As I sipped my Pimms, several thoughts went through my head. Oh how I missed that stage, where you have to help your off spring with everything. How glad I was that we are passed that stage. And wondering what comes next.
Photo credit: Ben Spark
Baby Monitors Online | 29th Aug 11
I bet your little girls looked very sweet in their outfits. Don’t they just grow up so fast! It’s crazy how much more independent they get each year.
Auriel Blanche | 5th Jul 11
This is a great blog and a great post, dont children just grow so fast!
I am a grandma now, and I have a project called The Magic Sunglasses to help children to grow with self esteem and self worth. Its an empowering project which starts as a great book for children to read and relate to the characters. This is then developed into the interactive workshop for children and schools and local centres and then a home /parent workbook.
http://www.themagicsunglasses.com
Au Pair Germany | 30th Jun 11
Haha…u even let ur baby girls used ur makeup,it must be very interesting! Everyone has to through different phases…hope ur girls enjoy their happy childhood.
Nicola Seary | 2nd Jun 11
How true.I have 5 children aged 11,8,3,2 and 5 months,each one seem’s to have grown up quicker than the other.Part of me looks forward to them becoming more independent and the other part of me dreads it.My 8 year old daughter already acts like a teenager and sulks just like one.On the other hand my 11 year old son is in no rush to grow up.I love seeing them develop their own individual personalities and learn new things that seem wondrous to them.
Joanne | 24th May 11
I can relate to this. Sometimes I find the one year old hard work and think how much more independent the five year old is. However, time goes so fast and I suppose I should cherish every moment!
Babes about Town | 24th May 11
They grow so fast! But hey, everything looks better when you can kick back and sip on Pimms 😉
Jody Brettkelly | 23rd May 11
What a great review and a wonderful place, it just looks idyllic! They have thought of everything with pools and indoor play. Once we stayed at Fowey Hall (the Toad of Toad Hall place) down that way but your place looks even more magical with the sea out there in the front. Isn’t it so great when one of your children bonds with another instantly and they are firm friends for the weekend? It makes it all worthwhile…
Lorraine The Party Times | 22nd May 11
Can relate to your article! Have mixed feelings here as have a nearly 8 year old and a just 2 year old and their needs are so different. With my son the most memorable years were from 2 until 5 as so many new experiences and such a cute period.
When I am cooing over my toddler’s latest attempts at speech or similar I often look at my 7 year old and feel sad…shame they have to grow up, but don’t think I could be a mother to toddlers for too long – so wonderful but so full on!
this is us | 21st May 11
It’s sad when you realise how grown up they are, I would love to go back and hold them as babies again! With my first I wanted all the ‘firsts’ quickly, with my second I realised how fleeting the baby stage is and didn’t want her to do anything! Nat
Geekymummy | 21st May 11
I bet the girls looked so lovely. It is bittersweet, the growing up. I held a squishy 6 month old yesterday, and though I don’t want another, I miss not having a baby!
Antonella | 21st May 11
Next are the teenage years, unfortunately. I’m going through it now with my son and in just over a year my daughter will start too. Nightmare! Enjoy your littke ones as long as you can! Ciao. A.
Ali Davies | 21st May 11
Your post is a real reminder of how important it is to make the most of each phase, with ALL it’s ups and down’s – ‘cos once it is gone it is gone for good.