Tuesday, November 9, 2010

A Mark on the Door

I have tucked all my children into their beds. There are no cribs here anymore. I threw away the diaper bag more than a year ago. The step-stool by the bathroom sink has been set aside because they can all reach the faucet "flat-footed."

And, now, for the first time I can say, "My youngest is five."

I have had other five-year-olds in my house (three to be exact) but they were never the youngest. There was always a younger sibling. Up until now motherhood for me has been defined by nursing & naps, sippy cups & child's silverware, playgrounds & interrupted conversations.

It didn't really happen in one moment this change from babies to children. They grow gradually. And that is precisely why it is hard to see the growth. So, every once in awhile I back them against the door: heels on the floor, head straight & a pencil line. They step aside. We measure and date the mark and see how much they grew this year.

This turning of five for my last-born is like a mark on the door of my motherhood. One day he was four, and now he is five. Though it didn't happen suddenly, it seems that one minute ago I had babies and now I don't.

I'm not sure how I got here. But I do know that this is the first time in twelve years that I have ever said, "My youngest is five."

Things have changed. And I'm stopping to notice this mark on the door of my heart.

4 comments:

  1. "...But his mother treasured all these things in her heart." (Luke 2:51)
    - Hubby

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  2. Sweet musings. We almost said our youngest was five, but Anna entered just three months before Malachi's fifth birthday. I wonder what life will look like in five more years.

    Always a blessing to see hints of the future through your family.

    Hugs from chitown.
    Mari

    ReplyDelete
  3. so sweet ... treasure every moment, the years sure do fly by :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. very sweet...Hugs to you , a wonderful mom..I have four sons and my youngest is now 12 soon I will have a new teen age son and I look forward to lots of fun times...then its on to grandchildren It never ends (the joys)

    - KAT -

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for being part of the conversation...I love hearing from you. Kathleen

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