Sometimes I Forget

The kids were acting...well, like kids.  I had a headache, was on the phone, my husband was trying to tell me something, and I was trying to cook dinner all at the same time.  I got off the phone as quickly as I could and glared at my husband and children.  Instead of taking a moment to gather myself and breathe, I took my frustrations out on them.  Zach responded with, "We were just playing.  We're kids."  In my anger, I yelled, "Grow up!"  They stopped in their tracks and looked at me with hurt expressions.    I immediately regretted the words and wished I could take them back.

Zach had said it perfectly.  They are just kids!  I forget that sometimes.  I think all parents do at some point or another.  It is important, however, to remember they are just kids.  Like most mothers, I want to keep them little and innocent for as long as I can...and yet here I was yelling for them to grow up.  Tisk, Tisk.  What was I thinking?

Caitlin asks many questions ABOUT EVERYTHING :) and can't sit still during a movie.  I don't think even a seat belt would keep her in her seat if furniture came with one.  Zach likes to eavesdrop and pretend he is constantly making movies (think Transformers or any robot fighting type of movie).  Expect to hear giggles and BOOM sounds or noises radiate from their rooms at any given point during the day.  

Then, there are the moments when they have very rational conversations, behave like perfect angels (which they do more often than not), and sit quietly while reading encyclopedias.  It is at times like these that I sometimes forget he is only eight and she is only five.   I have to remind myself.  

After they have long fallen asleep, I find myself watching them from the doorway or sitting on the edge of the bed listening to them breathe and watching them deep within their slumber.  They look so young, peaceful, and small.  I see just how little they really are.  They are far from being babies, but even further from being adults.  

I can't expect them to know everything, so she needs to ask questions to learn.  I certainly can't expect a five year old girl to sit through historical films.  I can't expect an eight year old boy NOT to be curious or want to make crashing sounds and fighting scenes when all he wants to do is be a film director...well, when he doesn't want to be a paleontologist (by the way, he could spell that at age 4).    

I want them to grow up, but not yet.  I just need to remember because sometimes I forget.