My biggest boy, the last in my series of ‘right here, right now’ posts. This time nine years ago I was 34 weeks through an easy pregnancy, and blown away by the fact that I was soon to meet my long awaited baby. Nine years!
He is growing into a little man faster than I am ready for! Already nearly as tall as me, he managed to actually lift me off my feet yesterday – no mean feat as I’m not as spritely as I once was, by any means. We occasionally go running together and though he claims to be ‘rubbish’, I’m pretty sure he’ll be outrunning me in the not too distant future. His stamina amazes me – two hours of canoeing on a Sunday doesn’t seem to leave him remotely tired – though he can and does eat like a horse afterwards!
My nearly-nine-year old is brilliant company. He is a serious soul with plenty to say, and while he can hold his own in a group, he’s always much happier with a on-on-one conversation, and I cherish our chats after his sister and brother have fallen asleep. It’s then he takes me on tours of the creative and complex Minecraft worlds he has built, full of roller coasters and tree houses and amazing creations that he is constantly tweaking and perfecting day by day. I’m astounded by the thought and the imagination that he puts into these creations, and though I was sceptical about the game itself at first, I can see that he is gaining a great deal from being able to create and manage his own private places, even just in a virtual sense.
It’s also during these post-bedtime chats that he shares with me his worries about life, which sometimes overwhelm him to the point where he goes into major meltdown mode. We’ve been working together to find ways to head off a meltdown before it takes over completely, and also talking a lot recently about how it’s as important for him to be kind to himself, as it is to be kind to others. This last point seems to have resonated with him more than any other confidence-building strategies I have tried, and I’m so, so happy to see him enter his tenth year in a much calmer and happier frame of mind…long may it continue!
I’ve written before about taking small steps with my lovely, big hearted boy, and now it seems he is taking small steps of his own – recently his browsing history included the phrase ‘how to deal with disappointment’ in amongst the endless Minecraft and Stampy Longnose based queries. I found this heartbreaking at the time – but on reflection I think perhaps it shows a developing maturity and a growing realisation that he is not helpless in the face of whatever life throws at him.
Though part of me wishes it wasn’t happening so soon, I’m proudly watching the way my biggest boy is taking the first steps towards the grownup world – he walked the short distance to his best friend’s house on his own yesterday, and he’s also been on an errand to the local shop for the Husband – something which he was very chuffed about indeed. He’s started wandering off to the kitchen to make his own toast at random times of the day , and asking me to make him the odd cup of tea – all small rites of passage on the growing-up journey…I only hope the next years don’t fly past too quickly!
My biggest boy, there’s so much to love about you, and I hope with all my heart that you are beginning to understand that.
I’m linking up with Magic Moments over at The Olivers Madhouse – there’s a bunch of posts over there full of happiness and joy, pop over and have a look!
Like this? You might also like these:
Right here, right now – my girl-in-the-middle Next up in my 'right here, right now' posts - my lovely little girl in the middle, who is a ray of sunshine in all our lives.
Nearly seven years have seen her change from a very fun, […]
Right here, right now – my littlest boy Back in September last year I wrote a post called 'What I love about my kids right now', trying to capture them as they were at that moment in time, so that I'd have something to look back […]
On Lazy Jacks – Review **Disclosure - I received these tops to review free of charge, but Lazy Jacks did not tell me what to write, or ask me to mention anything specific. As always, I write as I find**
I'll […]
oh I know this feeling, my eldest is 7 but he is starting to exert his independence and moving forward with his life, which is good for him but hard for me! Great you can talk to him, I think they need you more, even than when they were babies, for the emotional side as they take those bigger steps xxx
Louise Edwards recently posted…Books, books, books and only getting chance to read when on holiday…
You’re right, they seem to need you more as they get older and their lives get more complicated.
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
This is such a beautiful post, gorgeously written and with so much love. My childen are only 2 and 3 but I am already about these older stages and how I will deal with the things life with throw at them and their emotions. It seems like you are doing really well x
lisa H recently posted…Low Energy Play: Sticky Art
Thank you! It’s a case of finding my way, sometimes I am better at it than others!
LearnerMother recently posted…Silent Sunday 11.05.14
Wow isn’t it crazy how quickly time flies. My biggest boy is 7 and it still feels moments ago that he was born. Lovely post!
Amy recently posted…Magic moments. Mischief and mayhem
Thank you – it is indeed crazy and it makes me a it sad sometimes 🙁
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
What a beautiful, open post. He sounds lovely 🙂
Kate Thompson recently posted…“Combat” or “Survival” Mode?
Thank you. He is, though he doesn’t believe it, but we’re working on it.
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
Maxi turned Nine in march and it is such a complex age. There are so many changes. I love being in his company at the moment
Jen aka The Mad House recently posted…The Bloggers guide to encouraging and nurturing a love of reading
It is a tricky age for them to negotiate – but you’re right, they are very good company at this age!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
ahh he sounds so lovely. glad you get one on one time with him. that’s always so precious. what a lovely post. #magicmoments
Jenny recently posted…Living Arrows 19/52 ~ him, her, them
Thank you! One on one time is precious – it’s hard to get enough with any of them sadly.
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
Time really does fly doesn’t it? My z is only 3 yet and I still feel this. Its really nice to read how their personalities just continue to blossom as they come into their own x
Notmyyearoff recently posted…The Cool Gang
It’s fascinating watching their development, especially at this age.
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
What a beautiful posts. It seems the milestones get less defined but more pivotal in the journey as an individual. A beautifully written post.
Debbie recently posted…Siblings- May
Thank you! The milestones do change in their nature, I can’t believe it used to be about taking one or two wobbly steps with a baby walker and now it’s about going to the shop on his own!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
What a beautiful posts. It seems the milestones get less defined but more pivotal in the journey as an individual. A beautifully written post.
Debbie recently posted…Siblings- May
Lovely words about you son, im really dreading (i think my husband even more) that our little girl can grow so quick, but i guess she needs to be evicted first
Victoria Mylittlel recently posted…Peanut Hottie- peanut butter flavoured hot drink review
It does go horribly fast!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
“A serious soul with plenty to say” – sounds a lot like my oldest son, who’s only six. It’s such a journey of discovery watching kids grow up – and a privilege too. But where does the time go?!?
Tim recently posted…Birthday girl
I wish I knew that – and I wish I could bottle it!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
Such a lovely post – my 9 year old is very, very similar to yours in that he worries too much about other people and can sometimes seem likes hes carrying the world on his shoulders. We’re working on similar things to you but in general he’s such a pleasure to be around and I love chatting to him and just being with him.
Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…What we’re eating this week – 21 April 2014
Thank you – it’s such a lovely age, though I have said that about all their ages when they are in them!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
they grow soo fast dont they hun, its quite scary actually , great to watch them though x
They do indeed!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
What a gorgeous post and something I can really relate too with my ‘almost’ 9yr old daughter. Fab post and what a handsome boy you have there too. x
Super Busy Mum {Debs} recently posted…Sunshine & Ice-cream
Thank you! He is very special!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
Beautiful post, he sounds like a lovely boy. It is scary how quickly the time flies x
You Baby Me Mummy recently posted…Living Arrows 19/52
He is, he’s fab. But scary indeed to see the years whizzing by!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
Aw, just lovely. Time really does fly x
Michelle recently posted…Do You Want To Build A Snowman? Party Favor & Free Printable | #100DaysOfDisney – Day 8 | Disney Make It Monday
Thank you – it does 🙁
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
What a sweet, beautiful little boy. I love having little chats with my 5 year old before bed. I get more from her in those moments then during the day and i love listening to what she has to say x
Keri-Anne recently posted…Living arrows III
It is the pre-bedtime chats that are the most revealing with all of mine I find, in the day they’re just whirlwinds and far too busy to talk!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
What a beautiful post. He sounds like a super chap, you must be very proud.
I am, he’s brilliant – all of them are, I’m very lucky!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
beautiful post, they grow so fast! My eldest will be 11 on Thursday!
Polly recently posted…Olaf!
Oh my goodness eleven sounds so grown up, I want it all to stop!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
Gosh what a beautiful post, it actually brought tears to my eyes!! Maybe because I can recognise so much in my eldest, my 7 year old boy. What a lovely piece of writing and what a lovely boy he sounds!
Globalmouse recently posted…Dubrovnik in 1 day – with children
Thank you – sorry! He is lovely indeed. I think boys do tend to have the weight of the world on them more than girls in the primary school years!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
Reading this is so lovely.Sharing those special times when you can share a heart to heart with your kids is precious. Never loose that time its so very important.
Nayna Kanabar (@citrusspiceuk) recently posted…Aged Wooden Boards -DIY backgrounds for food pictures
Thank you – I won’t, I love my one-on-one time with each of them. Never enough of it though!
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
My eldest is 9 and loves to remind me he’ll be 10 this year. I really do not know where the time has gone x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins recently posted…Point + Shoot in York – 8th May – 11th May 2014
It just disappears in a heartbeat, doesn’t it 🙁
LearnerMother recently posted…Right here, right now – my biggest boy
I can’t relate to it yet, I’m not Mummy myself but it looks like he’s such a clever boy! I hope he will grow up to be as amazing young man as he is now!
Sylvia @ Happiness is homemade recently posted…Smoky prawns spaghetti / Makaron z wędzonymi krewetkami.
Wow I bet I will be thinking these same kind of thoughts before I even realise the years have flown by! Its a bit worrying to think of them reaching a point where they start worrying about stuff – OMG just ever decreasing circles of anxiety going on here!! 🙂 Nice to read that he’s finding his way through it all though. My ten year old step daughter is getting into Minecraft too apparently. #magicmoments
Sam recently posted…A change of scene
Oh how I love this – that bedtime slot is the perfect time to caht through things isn’t it? Sounds like you are a very open mother and great at talking things through x
Mammasaurus recently posted…Camp Bestival 2014
this is such a sweet and thoughtful post!
laura redburn recently posted…what i wore – green & blue floral dress
My older boy is ten and I am loving this age, the toddler tantrums are in the past, the teen tantrums not here yet, and he is such lovely company! Sadly in a house with a teenager and a toddler operating at full volume, I sometimes worry that he gets the least attention because he is so good!
Sonya Cisco recently posted…Roll up, roll up! The Camp Bestival Circus is coming!
My son is 3 going on 4 and he is being independent already but not as much as your of course. This is such a lovely post. Bittersweet =) #magicmoments
Merlinda (@pixiedusk) recently posted…Ginataang Kalabasa (Squash With Coconut Milk)
I loved reading this post, it was really touching. Your son is clearly a very thoughtful and kind little boy.
Lindy Hamilton recently posted…Why it’s important to insure your pets
My 9 year old is also a Minecraft fan. It allows them to be very creative doesn’t it? It is a strange age, not quite a child, not yet a teenager. Your son sounds wonderful, mature and thoughtful.
Louisa recently posted…A Minecraft style quilted cushion cover
He sounds like a lovely lad, what a proud mummy you must be! Time goes by so fast it is really important to remember to stop and take a look at where we are right now and what’s happening around us, or before we know it they’re all grown up and we wonder where the time went
Vicky (@aroundandupsidedown) recently posted…Get the look: Monochrome and bold clashing prints – everyday casual wheelchair fashion
What a lovely heartfelt post. My eldest is 14 and the years are flying past far too quickly for my liking. I love seeing him grow and change but I miss the little boy he once was.
Shell Louise recently posted…Our first geocaching adventure
It is scary how fast they grow isn’t. My eldest turns 21 next month #eek
Kara recently posted…Bissell Powerwash Lift Off Review
what a wonderful picture. I totally get that ‘growing so fast’ feeling! x