Growing up

For those of you who know me and know my parenting style, it's a little bit eclectic. I like to let the boys have their space and explore the world around them (but I'm always close by!) and yet at the same time we have rules and chores and all those other not so fun things. I was never really that mom that got super emotional about birthdays and their children getting older, I didn't cry on the first day of school or the last day of school or any day in between. And yet I find as they get older and our baby days are further behind us I get more emotional about them growing up.

Today my three boys started their first day of summer camp. I have been stressing about this for days...they were counting down the sleeps. Last night I was frantically packing everything (even the kitchen sink!) in their backpacks...they were asking for 2 juice boxes. This morning I was holding back tears as they got on the bus...they already had new best friends before the bus left the parking lot. So, as you can see...I was the only one worried about camp.

It's crazy to me how our vision of parenting can change so much over time. We all have a "plan" starting out, the way we're going to parent, the type of parent we're going to be. I know I did. And let me tell you, the mother I was planning on being would have no idea who this mother is!

So, tonight I will head out at 4 and pick up my boys from their first day of camp. I am looking forward to hearing the stories of new things they've learned and new people they've met. They're growing up and that makes me a little bit sad...but the people they are growing up to be, they make me proud.