Sunday, September 25, 2011

All Grown Up

From the time my babies were created, they have relied on me to protect, nurture and take care of them. And after they joined the world, they have expected help from several different people in order to accomplish different things. With each new thing that they can do alone, I get excited and a little bit sad. Excited because my little baby is becoming more independent and so much more grown-up. Sad because that is one more thing my teeny, tiny little person does not need my help with. Punkin-head and Baby Girl have both told me, "No, mommy, I can do it by myself." And in my head, I think, "Yay!! One less thing I need to worry about right now. Wait. Wait just a second. Stop growing up and needing me less."

And so, with all of this self-sufficiency, I have found myself holding onto so much more with my little babies. Which brings me to the dentist appointment last week. The dental tech came out to the waiting room and said my son's name. I stood up and walked over to her with him and she told me, "Oh, he gets to go back all by himself since he's over the age of 3." I'm sorry...WHAT?? He goes back all by himself and has his very own dental appointment...BY HIMSELF?? I said, "Really?? I can't go back with him??" She told me, "Don't worry. He'll be just fine." Well, great. I know he'll be fine, but I'm not. My little man walked back there and as I watched the door close behind him, I seriously started to cry a little. I have been there for him for everything, and now he's big enough to go by himself.

Thankfully, Baby Girl got called back to her appointment at the same time, and I went back with her. I held her in my lap as the tech cleaned her teeth and the dentist examined her cute little smile. Then Punkin-head came walking around the corner with a big grin on his face and a bag of dental goodies for being such a good patient. He was so proud of himself for being such a big kid. And I was proud that he was able to be so good all by himself. I told him I was so happy that he did so well, and he was such a big boy now. Then the dentist said, "We'll see you back in 6 months. And next time, she'll be able to go back by herself too." Oh, well, isn't that just peachy??