You Know Your Kid's Not a Baby Anymore When...

One of the first surprises Andi had in store for me was when I realized that she understood far more than she could express (with language). As her speaking skills improved it was only instinctive to assume that she only understood about as much as she could say, but by the age of one it became apparent that she understood far more than what she could express.

Another surprise for me was realizing just how difficult it must be to learn to form certain sounds (which eventually make words). While riding in the car one day (with her in a child seat in the back where she couldn't see me, or see how I formed words), I heard her trying to say a word, and I realized that she couldn't yet form the "sh" sound (like sheep). I watched her in the rear view mirror and realized that she was trying to see my mouth as I made the sound. But she couldn't see me from back there. After that I always made a point to face her and let her see me when she was trying to learn how to form a new sound.

I think we take a lot of the challenges of language or granted.

... you realize that you didn't even think twice about leaving out a counter full of Christmas ornaments in her presence.

(A younger friend is coming over today and as I walked by the counter a large flashing red arrow appeared and reminded me that leaving out all the glass + delicate + pointy + shiny + colorful + precious objects was a very bad idea.)

(We have free Christmas tree pick-up and disposal, I wasn't sure what the deadline was and so I de-ornamented the tree and took it outside, haven't gotten around to finishing putting away the ornaments yet. Will do.)

Man, I loved it when she was a baby and a toddler but it's nice to not have to think about this sort of thing on a daily basis.

Christmas trees are very stressful from when they can crawl until they're like three.

They = babies/kids, not Christmas trees.

When your grandchildren aren't babies anymore. I don't think my parents started treating me as an adult until my 50's. Sometimes its still a fight for every restaurant check.

Trust me. The Japanese are working on sentient mobile Christmas trees. Not for any legitimate practical reason but because they can.(｢⊙Д⊙)｢

I agree! I have always found perambulant Christmas trees very alarming. Is their mobility proof of angry Dryads inside, do you think? They die when their tree does, you know, no matter how many pretty ornaments you put on their coffins.

This happens with me also like, whenever I feel seek my baby always care of me, she is only 8 years older rather than she care of me like a mother, I love my baby...

* When they can talk well,
* Eat without spilling it all over themselves,
* Go to school.

When you dropped them off at college .....more than a 10 hour drive and you won't see them them for another 3 months

And sometime later when you hear them say "when I get back home" and
realize they are not talking about your house.

Don't even say that

Yeah, kinda blew my mind.

Now she actually has a house.
And a husband.
And two kids.

Life goes by too damn fast.

Ohhh my goodness. College??!

We're still two years away but it's creeping up quick.

How are you doing?

Yes college. I am actually doing fine. Fortunately she has a good head on her shoulders. Better than I did at her age.

Her sister on the other hand has taken it hard. She has relied on her sister for support and advice.

Aw. Yeah, we seem to know a lot of younger siblings who are having a tough time right now. How far away is the college girl? Can she come back to visit easily?

Unfortunately she is over a ten hour drive so we won't see her again until thanksgiving

Wait what? No such day ever occurs.

C'mon Krumple. You gotta let him wear long pants someday.

It's been a long time since I posted on this thread. My 2.5 yr old has become an 8.5 yr old, seemingly over night.

She has become a master of the language, exemplified now mostly by ignoring me when I ask her questions... "What do you want for dinner?"... silence. "WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR DINNER?"... "I'M THINKING." "How long are gonna think?"... silence.