A Funny Thing Happened...

I know that parents always say "Enjoy the baby days because they will be over soon" and "It seems like just yesterday that I had babies and now they are all grown up". When I had tiny babies, I will admit that I hoped all of this was true because I wasn't so sure that the baby days were exactly 'my thing'. But, a funny thing happened the other day...

I realized that my baby is not a baby anymore. It is not the usual milestones (like birthdays, school days, or sleepovers) that make you realize that your children are getting older...rather, it's the little things that completely catch you off guard--like an iron skillet across the jaw, you realize that your baby is not a baby. Isabel will always be 'My Baby', but she is a kid now...with kid feelings. Here is the story:

Last weekend, I decided to make a strawberry pie for Valentine's Day Dinner and I told Isabel that she could help (by help, I meant watch from a stool and occasionally touch the spoon...I do not like 'help' in the kitchen because I just think that even after soap, kid hands are never clean enough!!!). Anyway, my hands are busy with pie crust dough, so I ask Isabel to bring over the big container of flour. A few seconds later, she walks over carrying the vase of flowers from the table. I giggle at her (in a very normal, and non-insulting way) and tell her that I was referring to the white powdery flour, not the petal-variety. Shortly after, I notice that her face is sort of reddish and she is very quiet. I ask her what is wrong and she bursts into tears and I realize what is wrong....she was embarrassed by her 'mistake'! My heart broke for her and I instantly got teary eyed, as well! We had a long talk about how everyone gets embarrassed and that making silly mistakes is part of life and about how you just have to try to laugh at your own mistakes. In fact, Jason and I kept coming up with embarassing stories from our lives to make her feel better. But, my heart is officially broken because my baby is now old enough to be embarrassed. Yikes! I am sad because I don't want this for her...I want her life to always be carefree and happy. And, I am wishing I could now turn back the time because cuts and scrapes are way easier to fix than emotional boo-boos!

Here is my big girl at her school Valentine's Party:

The only good news is that Ashlen is nowhere near the stage of embarrassment yet...in dance class on Wednesday, she announced to her teacher and her entire class (loudly enough that I could hear her plain and clear all the way out in the waiting room) 'Last time I came to dance class, I went home and had diarrhea!!!' I don't think she is capable of embarrassment at any age...it is just not programmed into her personality!