Today I had a board meeting for the mom’s group I’m a part of at church, so I dropped Nate off in the nursery like I always do for my other meetings, Sundays at church, etc.
After the meeting was over I walked up to the nursery door to pick him up and saw a group of about 5 or 6 other boys standing and playing around the door, all waiting for their mommies. I quickly scanned the crowd and didn’t see Nate. As I was starting to look back over everybody I heard Nate say, “Mommy!” and looked down to see him right in front of me among all the other boys. One second beforehand I had apparently looked straight at him and did not recognize him as my own son.
When he called my name and I looked at him again it took me a second or two to realize it was in fact Nate. He looked so different. The same little boy I had just dropped off two hours ago had suddenly turned into this boy, this big kid. He looked so much older.
As he smiled and reached for the door I felt like the world’s worst parent for not recognizing my own son. I also felt, strangely, like I had been given a gift, that God was gently nudging me saying, “Pay attention. This is him, but he’s growing and changing. Every day. Pay attention.”
So, God, I get it. I get it, but just so you know I don’t like it one bit. Nate growing up may just be one of those things that I never fully get on board with.
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Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy these last moments with him as an only. It won’t be too long until you’ll be nursing right at the moment he builds the greatest lego tower known to man or changing a diaper when he just needs to be held and you’ll have to say, “I can’t right now. The riblet needs basting.”
I love Elizabeth’s cute comment about Riblet needing to be basted! Seeing your child among other children makes him look different- truly does…. I remember thinking the same way as I watched Matt & Chris grow up. After our short visit last week I showed Jim the pics I took of Nate and he said that Nate had changed so much! He’s not a baby any longer, but a cute, sweet little boy!! I love watching him grow.