Am I the only one to be exhaling a long and relieved breath as the children close the front door behind them on their way back to school? By 8am yesterday morning, the house suddenly fell deathly quiet and I remembered in that second how much I enjoy and need the solitary silence of mornings to myself before I leave for work an hour or so later. The summer holidays don't feel so long, but I had forgotton this.
I've been reading with interest the blogs of mothers who's children are starting secondary school this week. I went through all those feelings last year as Jimmy put on his first proper school uniform ever, and left the comparative safety of his little village primary where he had known everyone there for his whole life and by the end of it, was a big fish in that little pond.
On looking back over summer holiday pictures from this year and last, I was shocked! There staring back at me, as if I hadn't noticed, was the glaring proof that when little kids go to big school ... they get big!
This is Jimmy (and Johnny) on last year's trip to Italy - the summer before he went to big school - he's still a little boy!
And this is him in the summer holiday this year - not more than 12 months difference between the photos but golly - what a change!
This term, he has reached puberty and his voice sounds like it's just about to go. He's taller than me by an inch, his feet are size 6 already (what happened!?!) and almost overnight a few months ago, it became apparent that it was no longer appropriate for me to be present at his bathtime. Although there are times when the child is still there - "lets play outside" he said to his friends yesterday, he is quickly morphing from my little boy into "anyteenager" and I'm wondering if these next few years are going to be more challenging for us than the toddler times as he goes through all those difficult adolescent changes that must happen before he finds himself.
I've been reading with interest the blogs of mothers who's children are starting secondary school this week. I went through all those feelings last year as Jimmy put on his first proper school uniform ever, and left the comparative safety of his little village primary where he had known everyone there for his whole life and by the end of it, was a big fish in that little pond.
On looking back over summer holiday pictures from this year and last, I was shocked! There staring back at me, as if I hadn't noticed, was the glaring proof that when little kids go to big school ... they get big!
This is Jimmy (and Johnny) on last year's trip to Italy - the summer before he went to big school - he's still a little boy!
And this is him in the summer holiday this year - not more than 12 months difference between the photos but golly - what a change!
This term, he has reached puberty and his voice sounds like it's just about to go. He's taller than me by an inch, his feet are size 6 already (what happened!?!) and almost overnight a few months ago, it became apparent that it was no longer appropriate for me to be present at his bathtime. Although there are times when the child is still there - "lets play outside" he said to his friends yesterday, he is quickly morphing from my little boy into "anyteenager" and I'm wondering if these next few years are going to be more challenging for us than the toddler times as he goes through all those difficult adolescent changes that must happen before he finds himself.
Mr Marmalade and I remember too well the hell we were just about to put our parents through when we were his age!
9 comments:
What a great couple of pics. He certainly LOOKS a lot like you, I'd brace yourself.
Cute doggy bandana by the way.
Before I know it my two will be at that stage too. The most frightening thing is that I remember what a horrible teenager I was!!
Great photos of your lovely boy :)
xxx
I love that last pic. And boy, I remember being trouble as a teenager... as a parent you start to see it differently don't you!
Great wallet on your previous post too. I need to make something like that.
x
My nephew started 'big school' this term. He still seems so little and vulnerable...
So grown up in only a year! Crumbs - it's scary! Lucy x
As a mum who has gone through the teenage years with three boys I can honestly say they were relatively plain sailing and they were better and better company as each year passed. However being smack bang in the middle with no.4 who is almost sixteen it is a different story....
Your young man looks lovely!
Ahh .. thanks for your lovely comments. J is lovely and i'm sure it will be fine. As one era ends, so another begins. It's exciting really and I'm looking forward Gina to his company getting better and better as I've often heard is the case. xx
He looks fantastic, doesn't time just fly by though? It doesn't seem 2 minutes since my 3 year old was a gurgling baby!
Twiggy x
I joined you in that sigh of relief yesterday morning!
Jimmy and No2 are in the same year - although my baby has only just turned 12 and your's is almost 13. The last year has just flown by and I can see he is on the verge of turning! One minute he's all 'Mummy this' or 'Mummy that' then grunts about something obscure! I'm sure he doesn't know which way is up at the moment either!
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