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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Be Careful What You Wish For



Guess what happens when you have three kids in three years? (Yeah, I actually have seven, but the first three came in three years--I know, crazy!) I'll share the highlights:



You get three kids in diapers at the same time (my oldest was a boy--'nuf said).

Basically, your body is in a state of non-stop pregnancy or nursing for half a decade--for me, it was my twenties (can you say, "deflated water balloon"? I'm getting depressed, let's fast forward a bit).

You get three teenagers in the same house, at the same time ('nuf said).

You get three college students at the same time (can you say, "deflated wallet"?)

So I've arrived at my point. Yes, I have three kids in college this year, and for the first time, two are actually going AWAY--one to Sam Houston State University (only an hour's drive north, but still...), and one to Brigham Young University, Rexburg, Idaho campus (only a three day drive north...). The other is at the local community college (thank you Gods of Education for the Community College educational system).

Why, as parents, do we have such conflicting emotions when it comes to our children growing up? A part of me is screaming, "Yay, there outta here. There on their way--woohoo!!!" and another wants to fall at their legs crying, "Don't go! Don't leave me yet! Just one more game of Scrabble. One more trip through McDonald's drive through. Let's watch What About Bob together just one more time!

But they leave.

I have a pretty good feeling they'll be back. A little older. A little wiser.

I hope I am too.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Tamera, it's hard. But I promise they'll be back. And they'll be back with spouses and children, which will be your grandchildren and it will be the rockinest time of your life. So be a little sad, but remember, your children are always yours.

Oh, and BYU-Idaho rocks! Greatest school ever.

Marcia Mickelson said...

What a cute picture. You look so nice and what beautiful children! You're amazing; that's all I can say.

Tamra Norton said...

I agree, Candace--BYUI rocks! Marcia, that picture was 16 years ago. If only it were only 16 pounds ago! :) And yeah, they were--and are--beautiful children, inside and out!

Janette Rallison said...

Darling kids! With my twins who came when there older brother was still two, I'm going to have the exact same thing.

And it was so hard when their older sister went off to college. It almost felt like she'd died. I mourned for two weeks straight. However the bonus side to it all was that we became much better friends after she left. I didn't have to nag her about jobs or curfew anymore so suddenly we were happy to talk to each other again.

Heather Moore said...

This is sweet, Tami. Good thing you have 7 of them :)