Hadley is growing up.
This was not always a bad thing. She was not one of those snugly, lovey-dovey babies who oozed with affection and craved companionship.
That was her little brother.
Hadley was the child who put us in our place from day one. The Baby who cried so much the first night we brought her home from the hospital that she lost her voice. She was The Baby who had her pediatrician observe she must be extremely colicky because of her abs of steel from crying. The Baby who would only sleep in 30-minute increments the first six months of her life. The Baby who demanded we address her with respect by only using capital letters.
I was happy for her to cease and desist from being The Baby.
The toddler years were no walk in the park, nor was the two-year-long-nightmare-that-was-potty-training. I’m sure I will be institutionalized during her teen-age years.
But here’s the deal:she is 4 and I really, really like her. Not just the I-love-you-because-I-am-your-mother-and-have-to-love-you thing. But I really enjoy her. She is an independent spitfire who loves to socialize, laugh and play. She cooks, cleans, skis, skates and goes on long walks with me. She has become my little buddy.
I have to admit that sometimes during her infancy, I was counting down the minutes/hours/years until I would send her to kindergarten.
I finally registered a few weeks ago for fall semester.
And I blubbered like The Baby.
No one prepared me for this. How I would battle in those trenches for oh-so many years and suddenly when they start being delightful and you actually want them around, you ship them off to school.
This process is repeated during the teenage years: just as they start to become human again, off to college they go.
Of course, I could always join the contingency of hearty moms who sacrifice their time and talents to homeschool their children.
Kindergarten is suddenly sounding better and better.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 