He's Not So Little Anymore

There's an awesome song by Billy Dean called, "Let Them Be Little."  When our oldest three children were actually little, Tim and I used to listen to that song.  We really did treasure those little moments, but we had no idea how fast it would all go.

Tonight I was kind of glad I got to sit by this handsome guy tonight at the Real Salt Lake game.  I was trying to remember all the details so I could hold onto the memory of this night, but also trying not to think too much, because tears rolling down my cheeks at the RSL game would not have been cool. 

Nate turns 18 in less than a month.  He graduates less than a month after that.  But all this was so real in my mind tonight because yesterday Nate decided he was going to go on a mission for the LDS church, which he can do as soon as he graduates.  (Read more about missions here.)  I've known this was coming, but in part of my heart the grown up kid sitting next to me tonight will always be that curly haired, witty, observant little guy that was my helper when "his babies" were little.  I cried when I sent him to first grade, and I'll cry again when I send him out the door for his mission, but I've loved every minute in between, and enjoyed my night with him as well.  He clarified some calls to me when I didn't know what just happened on the field.  He wore his SAHS soccer jacket.  He told me where to park and I should have listened to him, not Megan.  He stood in line with me when I didn't know what I was doing.  He drank Mountain Dew because the concession stand didn't sell Dr. Pepper.    The lady who passed a beer over him spilled some on him so he smelled like beer.  And that haircut?  He got a haircut the other day.  Really.  He had to show me the receipt so I'd believe him, but I love his curls, and I'll probably always smile when I think of that haircut (and smile again when he gets that missionary haircut).

And lately, I love how he comes and sits down with me at night after the other kids go to bed and talks to me.  Sometimes I'm in the middle of something, and find myself thinking the timing isn't great, then I realize how much I'll miss these conversations when Nate isn't here anymore.  Other days he says just the right thing at the right time that makes me laugh.  

Really, my heart is happy that this little guy of mine is growing into such an incredible human being, who has been more strength to me than he'll ever know this past few years, but just for old time's sake...

Let 'em cry, 

Let 'em giggle, 

Let 'em sleep in the middle, 

Oh, but let them be little.

If you have little ones, hold on to every moment...which probably means it will hurt a little bit when it's time to let go, but you'll have so much to hold onto.

This post will one day be known as Let Them Be Little.  It may also one day be known as The Day Mom Almost Cried at the RSL Game.