The years go by too quickly

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I watched a UK McDonald's ad online and I have to say it made me feel sort of sad. It was of a mom and her preteen and it showed the mom trying to connect with her son but her and in an image, it shows him as a younger kid getting excited and then it shows them going to McDonald's and then him dropping the "cool kid" act and just enjoying being with his mom. This is a very brief synopsis it was a Christmas ad. It just really got me thinking about how my son is ten now and how much I miss those toddler years I thought he'd never outgrow them but then he did. I thought watching The Lorax on repeat was annoying. I thought his constant tantrums were something I'd be stuck with forever. I remember bringing him home from the hospital and thinking ten years was such a long way away. I used to tell myself when I'd slowly panic about how quickly he was going to grow that it was still such a long way away but I'm here to tell you it's not. Ten years flew by. I remember just wishing I could sleep or just watch something outside of preschooler programming. I remember wishing he'd be more independent so I could just get a little bit of me time but now I'd do about anything to go back and just enjoy it for a few minutes. My son is still incredibly cuddly and sweet but each passing day I see as he grows more and more independent. I miss the way he'd sit in my lap as I read him a book or the way he would giggle from a simple game of peekaboo. I miss the way he would mispronounce words and the only thing it took to make him feel better was a kiss and a hug. My son is slowly growing into that preteen age where he rolls his eyes or gives me some attitude albeit he's not as bad as some kids are with it but I keep looking for that little baby boy I once knew and he's pretty much gone. I remember when I bought him Hotwheels every year and they were literally his favorite toy and now he loves electronics, LEGOS, and NERF guns. He is still my sweet boy but he's no longer my pudgy little toddler who needs me for everything and yes that's a good thing but boy do I miss those days in a way that when I was going through them I never thought I would. I remember longing for him to have some independence and as they say be careful what you wish for. My son lives in his room but I will say he'll still come in my room sometimes for cuddles and ask to play a game or watch a movie. I miss his baby years so much sometimes. Toddlers can be a royal pain but they're still so sweet at times. My son is such an amazing kid and I honestly can't complain I just wish I could slow time down a little. The other day he gathered our dinner dishes without being asked and cleaned them off into the trash and rinsed them off and put them beside the counter (we don't have a dishwasher and we aren't quite at the point where we allow him to do dishes by hand) and he asks for us to call him when we do dishes so he can dry them and put them away. He almost never complains when we ask him to help us. He is literally one of the most polite, respectful, and sweet kids I know and I'm so proud of who he is turning out to be but there are definitely days I just want my baby back. I told him he'll always be my baby and he smiled at me and told me he knows. He is literally the best kid I could ask for and I remember during the toddler years I questioned how he'd turn out to be because he was so headstrong and defiant but the little boy he has grown into amazes me. He is still headstrong at times but not defiant. All I can say is if you still have small children just hug them and enjoy their littleness because before you know it they are huge and independent. I got lucky in that my kid is still all about mom and dad time but I know it's a matter of time. He loves being by himself but he also really enjoys spending time with us. He is growing up before my eyes and I can't slow it down. I'll always miss the days where I could carry him in my arms and raise him above my head and blow raspberries on his belly to get those sweet baby giggles but I also enjoy my independent sweet respectful kid who still has the most infectious giggle, biggest smile, and the best hugs. I can't go back but boy can I enjoy the few remaining years of innocence he has left before the world comes caving in and spoils it more than it already has. To quote the Billy Dean song "Let them be little" because it goes by all too quickly.