About eighteen years ago I held my first child in my arms..
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...looked into his eyes and felt such love that I thought my heart was going to burst. The little bundle of joy was kicking around and utterly dependent upon us - so much so that the responsibility was daunting.
Eighteen and a bit years later he is all grown up and about to embark on a gap year. India (teaching maths at an orphanage/school), Australia (visiting distant relatives), New Zealand (teaching at a school), Honduras (helping in a hospital) and The USA visiting an old friend. He then returns and goes to Oxford University for four years.
In eighteen years I've never been separated from him for more than a week or two and now he's leaving the nest. Stone me - those years have flashed by in no time! From a babe in arms to be old enough to die for his country in just the blink of an eye!
Those of you with young kids; enjoy them growing up. Before you know it you'll be driving them to an airport and waving them off.
I'm feeling a little reflective and melancholy tonight!
Eighteen and a bit years later he is all grown up and about to embark on a gap year. India (teaching maths at an orphanage/school), Australia (visiting distant relatives), New Zealand (teaching at a school), Honduras (helping in a hospital) and The USA visiting an old friend. He then returns and goes to Oxford University for four years.
In eighteen years I've never been separated from him for more than a week or two and now he's leaving the nest. Stone me - those years have flashed by in no time! From a babe in arms to be old enough to die for his country in just the blink of an eye!
Those of you with young kids; enjoy them growing up. Before you know it you'll be driving them to an airport and waving them off.
I'm feeling a little reflective and melancholy tonight!
Edited by srebbe64 on Sunday 6th September 23:33
I've just spent 2 glorious days with my 5 & 3/4's (this is the important bit the 3/4's, well it is to him) year old camping in the New Forest.
I am building those memories that you are now reliving, and enjoying every minute.
I am not looking forward to the day my little'un leaves but seeing these things written here and there leads me to believe that "they" will be OK.
I too am in a very melancholy place but more importantly a little too drunk.
I am building those memories that you are now reliving, and enjoying every minute.
I am not looking forward to the day my little'un leaves but seeing these things written here and there leads me to believe that "they" will be OK.
I too am in a very melancholy place but more importantly a little too drunk.
CedGTV said:
I've just spent 2 glorious days with my 5 & 3/4's (this is the important bit the 3/4's, well it is to him) year old camping in the New Forest.
I am building those memories that you are now reliving, and enjoying every minute.
I am not looking forward to the day my little'un leaves but seeing these things written here and there leads me to believe that "they" will be OK.
I too am in a very melancholy place but more importantly a little too drunk.
Yeah, memories are priceless! Take lots of photos and videos.I am building those memories that you are now reliving, and enjoying every minute.
I am not looking forward to the day my little'un leaves but seeing these things written here and there leads me to believe that "they" will be OK.
I too am in a very melancholy place but more importantly a little too drunk.
The thing I've noticed is that we don't worry any less about the kids as they get older (more if anything). It's a lifetime sentence having kids!
Funny that this subject came along. I have three kids and suddenly realised that none of them are teenagers, but two of them are in their twenties, and one is yet to be thirteen. Made me feel odd, considering me and Mrs. Tunku have been together the whole time, and the kids are all our own work.
srebbe64 said:
...looked into his eyes and felt such love that I thought my heart was going to burst. The little bundle of joy was kicking around and utterly dependent upon us - so much so that the responsibility was daunting.
Eighteen and a bit years later he is all grown up and about to embark on a gap year. India (teaching maths at an orphanage/school), Australia (visiting distant relatives), New Zealand (teaching at a school), Honduras (helping in a hospital) and The USA visiting an old friend. He then returns and goes to Oxford University for four years.
In eighteen years I've never been separated from him for more than a week or two and now he's leaving the nest. Stone me - those years have flashed by in no time! From a babe in arms to be old enough to die for his country in just the blink of an eye!
Those of you with young kids; enjoy them growing up. Before you know it you'll be driving them to an airport and waving them off.
I'm feeling a little reflective and melancholy tonight!
And in a few months I can picture the scene clearly and in years to come, you narrating...Eighteen and a bit years later he is all grown up and about to embark on a gap year. India (teaching maths at an orphanage/school), Australia (visiting distant relatives), New Zealand (teaching at a school), Honduras (helping in a hospital) and The USA visiting an old friend. He then returns and goes to Oxford University for four years.
In eighteen years I've never been separated from him for more than a week or two and now he's leaving the nest. Stone me - those years have flashed by in no time! From a babe in arms to be old enough to die for his country in just the blink of an eye!
Those of you with young kids; enjoy them growing up. Before you know it you'll be driving them to an airport and waving them off.
I'm feeling a little reflective and melancholy tonight!
Edited by srebbe64 on Sunday 6th September 23:33
Upon the joyous return of my son... he looks at me and said...
'dad I have a little surprise for you...'
'What is it son?' say I, in my moment of joy.
'What pray tell did you bring back your olde paa from your worlde trippe at my expense?'
'Father....'
'May I present you your first grandchild.'
And in my moment of shock, as I looked with loving wonderment into my grandson's eyes. I asked.
'Son , tell me his name'.
'Sundeep Kevin Nige Jose Bush IV'
he replied.
'And meet his little sisters' ...
As a parent you remember all the good and bad times, being kept up all night,first day at school etc etc. But nothing really prepares you for the time when you drop them off at some skanky halls for their first term at Uni. Daughter number 1 is now in her last year, daughter number 2 starting her second year next week and daughter number 3 is only 14.
If only I could work out where the time went. Needless to say I miss the 2 elder ones desperately but I know they had both reached the time to fly.
Just make the most of each and every day with them while you can!
If only I could work out where the time went. Needless to say I miss the 2 elder ones desperately but I know they had both reached the time to fly.
Just make the most of each and every day with them while you can!
go out and get him on of these:
http://www.google.co.uk/products?hl=en&q=perso...
That should give you some piece of mind and not infringe on his holiday too much, plus it will be quite cool for his blogg (if he creates one) to have a tracker synced into it in real time and watch it move round the world on his travels.
http://www.google.co.uk/products?hl=en&q=perso...
That should give you some piece of mind and not infringe on his holiday too much, plus it will be quite cool for his blogg (if he creates one) to have a tracker synced into it in real time and watch it move round the world on his travels.
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