You used to never to be able to do anything at all without my help and now you have a “life?” What gives?

Some things are starting to change in my life as my kids get older and start having their own things to do. It’s always been that there wasn’t anything in the world that my children could do by themselves. It always took my wife or myself to put on a sock or find a shoe. We sat there and fed them, and then it was sitting at the kitchen table staring at them saying, “Eat your food.”  

Now it seems that ever so slowly they are starting to do things on their own and getting invited to parties and different friends are coming over and all kinds of various activities are happening.  It’s crazy to sit and watch these little people go from 100 percent helpless to getting a “life.”

I used to have a life before children. We all did, right? We did things, had plans, went out to eat, went out to the river…we had a life. A few years ago, that life changed into waiting on these children hand and foot. Well, my wife’s hands and feet, really. Mine have been more of walking around looking for things while turning lights off and ACs up, saying, “Hurry up, we are going to be late,” and taking out the trash and buckling children. 

Now, though, I am finding pockets (small) of time where one may be at dance and the twins may be playing in their room or a weekend birthday party, and I find myself sitting there hearing nothing, nothing at all. Seems like these little ones are growing up a little faster and starting to have lives of their own. I guess it’s time for me to enjoy it while I can before they turn into teenagers, and I have to chase and stalk them to find out what’s going on in their lives. 

For now, it seems it may be time for me to start thinking about and planning to…get a life, again. ■