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By the wonderful Grace Farris.
P.S. Taking kids on a hike and signs of spring.
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I have three kids, and it was so amazing getting to know them already while I was pregnant with each of them. I can point to differences in their personalities that were absolutely apparent before they were born. And meeting those babies–wow, there’s now other moment like that in your whole life. Like some of the other commenters, I felt like I looked amazing while I was pregnant. My body was doing exactly what it was supposed to be doing and growing in all the right places. I had relatively tough pregnancies and births, but I was willing to do it all three times because it was so worth it.
My son was 7 when my husband and I divorced so it was a definite struggle approaching the teenage years with him. However, we enjoyed going to the movies together and I always let him choose. One day he wanted to go see Bruno so off we went, I had no idea what it was about and dont really think he did either. I wriggled uncomfortably in my seat with him next to me but heck…..what a different relationship we had when we came out of there. We laugh about it now (he’s 28) but it definitely allowed us to discuss more in depth topics together
Not that I’m recommending this tactic LOL
Having a preteen, a kid and a toddler I honestly can’t wait for the teen years! I love me some toddler squeezes around the neck and cuddles reading to my kiddos…but I’ve really enjoyed the conversations my preteen and I have had lately. And getting to watch some movies we’ve held off on. Hadn’t thought about the clothes though! Haha! My eldest son already wears my shoe size. How?! I’ll definitely look at their shoes and clothes differently from now on!
I’m also nervous bc I didn’t have a good relationship with my mother as a teen. I remind myself to keep communicating with my kids and be the safe space. I wish I had an example in my own experience.
My kids are old enough that they will watch Cary Grant screwball comedies with me and sing along loudly to “Livin’ on a Prayer” in the car. The older one (he’s 12) can make guacamole and the younger one (8) can make inappropriate poop jokes that are actually much funnier than the poop jokes he tried to make at, say, age 3. I read Nancy Drew books out loud to them and we all make fun of the ridiculous shenanigans Nancy gets herself into. Of course, I loved them a ton when they were tiny, but I like them more and have a lot more fun with them now!
I have a 10 and 12 year old with feet that are now larger than mine. I have absolutely bought them each a pair of Stan Smith adidas sneakers that I claimed as mine as soon as they outgrew them.
So smart! I know a mom who bought her son Blundstone boots one year for this purpose…
This is an awesome life hack and I’m definitely doing it when my kid is older! Just a few years to go, thank you :)
All these things are true! I love having a teen in the house!
Sigh…I love Grace Farris!
A flip side to snagging their shirts – saving fun t-shirts that hubs and I have outgrown for our future teen boys. Yes, 8+ years away but I’ll be ready! I expect to feel something like the joy I get when I see my boys’ hand-me-downs on other community toddlers. I mean, a Scrabble tee that reads “it’s your word against mine” has got to live again.
Yes! I have 9 and 14 year old daughters with taller genes than mine from my husband. Hence a lot of the sentimental clothes I’ve been saving for them from my teens and twenties are actually being worn already (even by the 9 year old), and it makes me so so happy!! Also my mother-in-law has hoarded a few things from my husband’s youth, like a Superbowl sweatshirt from the 80s signed by a player. My daughter wears this vintage gem regularly.
I have a 12 and 15 year old and I LOVE big kids. I love joking around with them. I love their awkwardness. I love how independent they are. I love seeing so many new things they are experiencing that I actually remember going through–I don’t remember learning to walk but I remember getting my first job (which my son did yesterday!). CoJ was the first place that I saw comments about liking teenagers even though they get a bad rap, and I’m so thankful I saw it!
I have an 11 and 13 year old and feel the same way! Plus, all 3 of us have the same shoe size right now.
With my oldest only 13, here to report these ALL come true!
I steal all my 14 year old son’s tshirts!!
When I fold my 9 yr olds tees I always declare: NOT YET BUT SOON!
Mine:
Them Sleeping in
Them doing dishes without making a bigger mess
Them wanting to see a movie I actually want to see vs me humoring them
Them having insight and perspective I appreciate and grow from
The shirt she’s wearing in bottom right is the cherry on top of this cartoon. Well done (as usual!), Grace! Happy weekend momming to all!
Just got it – insert chefs kiss.
100% so glad you drew my eye to it :)
Oh, so glad you pointed that out! HAHAHA!
“Is this the Matrix” was my favorite part. I laughed so hard!
Yes that was my favourite part too!
Haha, this is exactly the stage I’m in with my almost twelve year old son! His feet are currently the same size as mine, and I’m excited to use my (his) inherited super warm snow boots and extra snowboarding boots next winter! I’ll probably get some good sport sandals out of this season, too.
I’ve also been eyeing his new mesh shorts that I got for like four bucks on sale and wondering why in the world I am paying women’s prices – they would be perfect for exercising or wearing to the pool. Heck, I could even wear them to run errands on hot days, I’m not fancy. :)
There’s so much in our culture about differentiating ourselves, and being unique, and then I read Grace’s comics and feel that out breath of peace that comes with recognition, community, shared experiences.
As a side note, I fantasize about my daughter wanting to do TikTok dances in the future, and having me be the comical back to it, and then start worrying about the effects of TikTok on her mental health, while then reminding myself that TikTok probably won’t be their thing anyway. She’s five and a half.
Hahahahahahaha!
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