Baby no more

Max moved into a big-boy bed tonight. I won't lie to you. I cried. Perhaps the tears were spurred by moving him into the new bed on the very day we bought Weston his new backpack and lunchbox for preschool. A mother's heart can only take so much, after all. But, I suspect there would have been tears regardless. And if my friend lamenting her son's return to college is any indication, it never gets easier. Our kids are made for growing up. And our job is to see that they do. But what a mixed bag of emotions all this growing up is. On the one hand we thrill to our children's every accomplishment and step towards independence. But on the other, we build our scrapbooks with all care and diligence because we need to hold on. We need to be needed, and we can see the writing on the wall showing that we will not always be. Yes, a big-boy bed is an exciting step. (Not to mention a whole lot safer). But, for this mommy, it's hard to see the baby days slip much too quickly away. Although, in that huge bed, he does look a bit like a baby, doesn't he?!