Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Weird, the Baby Gate's Gone

The baby gate's gone. I took it down on Monday. Yesterday I kept catching myself staring at the bottom of the steps in amazement. The stairs look so different. Really, they do. Our entry way seems so open.

I imagine it will go up sometime again to limit access or impede mobility. Even so, the need is gone.

It's a small milestone.

Oh, I imagine some of you moms with older kids are laughing at my silliness.

But still... every time I go up and down the stairs, I pause and I think, "Weird, the gate's gone."

And, I wonder how long that feeling will last.

I like the change.

I like how the space makes me pause to notice that even though every day seems like another day doing the same thing, each day is different and my kids are growing.

They are changing.

Every day I lose a piece of the younger years (for them and me). Each loss is also a gain.

They are growing and changing but so am I.

I used to be a mom of preschoolers (at one time I had 3 age 4 and under *gasp*) and I now I am about to be a mom of 3 elementary school aged children.

Yes, this coming Fall I will be a mom to 3 elementary school boys. Wow, that causes me to pause... probably makes some teachers I know want to change schools (no, not because of my boys).

I want to be a mom that celebrates the passing of time and the growth of my children. I want to be a mom that says, "Wow, look at that!" instead of "Weird, where did the time go."

I want to grow as a mom as my children grow.

I'm smiling at the new space in front of my stairs. And, as soon as I think, "Weird, the baby gate's gone," I think, "Wow, look at all that space!"

10 comments:

RLR said...

I remember the day we took down the one to our office. It was the one that stayed up the longest (those curious kids!). I, too, try to celebrate that they are growing up and reaching milestones - but I do sometimes miss the knuckle dimples on their chubby baby hands!

Anonymous said...

I totally get it! Kids grow up too darn fast! Nice to meet you!

He & Me + 3 said...

I hear ya girly. I will be a Mom of three elementary kids too this fall. Wow where did all the years go?

More Than Words said...

I know what you mean! My eldest will be in HIGH SCHOOL this fall! Where did that time go??????

Beth E. said...

I remember how I felt when I took our baby gate down, oh so many years ago! We've still got that gate...may have to use it again to keep our aging dog off the stairs!

Those kids seem to grow up in the blink of an eye. They truly do. We tried to make every moment count as our boys grew, yet we still ended up asking, "Where did the time go?" :-)

Anonymous said...

Just don't let Jonathon break his arm on the stairs again!!

We had a going away party for our crib - took pictures of the kids and lit candles and everything - just to celebrate the passing of time. We did the same thing with the high chair, maybe even the potty seat. These are remarkable milestones and it is a great thing to see the kids grow and weird to think these big baby items won't be in the house anymore.
Sharon

Macey said...

I don't think anyone would laugh at that! As long as you have a child, it doesn't matter how old they are, there is ALWAYS a milestone to be reached.
We JUST turned the boys beds into a bunkbed. That was HUGE for me. :(

Mimi said...

Amen to growing & changing with our children!

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Everyday Kathy said...

Nice! I have recently been noticing that the safety latches are not all working in the kitchen but I really don't need to fix them. My girl knows what is allowed and what is not...

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Jenny said...

I remember taking the baby gate down -- and you're right. Your feelings about motherhood change. I realized this a couple of years ago one day at Target during the middle of the school day when no kids were with me--they were both at school! I was no longer the mom of babies, toddlers or even preschoolers. I do feel I have evolved as a parent as the kids get older. Good observations, great post!