I Need to Stop Watching the Commercials

How completely bittersweet it is to watch your child age.

On one hand, I am anxious and excited for Little Bug to grow up, learn more, and advance. Just last night I wondered out loud to Appa what Little Bug would be like at age 5. I'm honestly really excited to see years stretched out before me with Little Bug and Little Bro as the stars. How lucky am I to be a part of that awesomeness for so many years to come?!?

On the other hand, with each new skill comes the loss of something less tangible, the "babyness," if you will. As our children grow, their personalities change. Everything about them becomes different. It's a natural progression of life and a really cool one to witness, but it's also very bittersweet to realize that life is changing for your child (and you) in ways that can never be undone.

• This morning my son pulled my hair brush out of my bathroom drawer, brought it into the bedroom, and started brushing MY hair. He did a surprisingly good job.
• Yesterday my son officially got his first chore, taking his place mat to and from the table. He's very disciplined at it and needs little prompting.
  
• Three days ago my son figured out how to completely unzip his winter coat...this is an inconvenient skill considering the current Midwest climate.
• In the last week, Little Bug has developed a bit of a swagger. He's so comfortable lording over ever room in our house and his attitude is much less "I'm a baby, hear me cry" and much more "I'm 2, hear me roar." The baby gates are really starting to piss him off; he now sees them as a direct affront to his ability to do what he wants, when he wants. (Tough nuts, kiddo.)

I could go on and on, but my kid is hard to keep up with sometimes. Literally, he's learning to run.

Ultimately, it's a good thing Little Bug is growing up. Every parent wants their kids to grow up to be the best they can be, and for us, every stride Little Bug can make before Little Bro comes home is going to make it easier on him as he transitions into the role of big brother, which I know he will excel at. But, it's still a bit sad to see my baby bug morph into a big boy bug.

So, to Pr*ctor and G*mble: thanks for the commercial you keep running during the Olympics...the one that makes me cry every. single. time. and has brought up way too many bittersweet emotions for me lately. You know the one, the commercial showing all the little kids getting ready to complete in events, then it pans to the older, nervous mother in the crowd who looks like she is going to cry, throw up, and cheer all at once before cutting to the tag line, "To their moms, they will always be kids."

If I promise to buy Cr*st toothpaste, will you stop making me cry every time I think of my child growing up?