I’ve sprung a leak again.
I didn’t think I would cry over this, but apparently, I was wrong.
My baby boy is 16 years old today. Two more years and he will be off to college. I had my sons 11 years apart, so I’ve had a kid in the house for over 26 years now. I’m looking forward to the next phase. I am. I’m curious to see who I will be when I don’t have a kid to take care of on a daily basis..it’s been so long.
I didn’t think I’d cry today. The adult that Joey is growing into is so goddamn fascinating that it takes the edge off the fact that my baby boy is years past being a baby.
Still, sobbing like a little bitch right now.
He’s on Spring break this week and he’s sleeping the sleep of a teenager. If he knew I was crying, he would laugh at me and then he would hug me. He’s sweet and he’s funny and he’s annoying as hell some of the time. Still, out of all the teenagers we’ve had in the house, he’s the easiest.
Any of our other spawn who read this and are offended by me saying Joey is the easiest, I have this to say: Call your brother! It’s his goddamn birthday.
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Okay, I had to stop. Crying that hard before work ensures an all day headache. I think we’re good now.
When Joey was a baby, not even two, we were in a grocery store. Randy has a habit of wandering away when we’re out shopping, so nearly every trip to the store includes me walking around going ‘Where the fuck did he go”?
Anyway, Randy had wandered off and I looked at Joey and said “Where is your daddy”? Joey, all of 18 months old said “Where is daddy? FUCKING daddy”.
Poor kid never stood a chance.
He loved The Cramps when he was no more than 6 months old and would have a full body freak out when we played She Said for him.
He told me I was preposterous when he was four years old. He called my boss supercilious when he was five years old.
He read Animal Farm before he started Kindergarten and he understood it.
I’ve been staring at him in wonder for 16 years now. I know that soon, very soon, his time to be an adult will begin and I will have to let go.
Not today, though. Today is his birthday and I will try to live in the moment.
Okay, enough of that. I’m at work now. There’s no blubbering at work.
Oh fuck this is exactly how I felt a week ago. Although my baby only turned 5. It was the hardest day for her of her life. I don’t even want to think about 16… He sounds like a good kid through your tweets and posts. Good luck the rest of the day and enjoy your time with him!
Thank you, Rocco. We’re taking him and a few of his friends out for pizza. I gave him the option of just going with his friends..I told him I’d drop them off and pick them up..but he said no, he’d rather we went too. It made my heart happy.
That is so awesome! What a good kid!
Good God, SOMEONE has to do it! >>> http://youtu.be/0x-fkSYDtUY
HAHAHHAHA….YES! That is just what I needed.
I need to watch that movie again. I love that one.
Oh you poor thing! That’s so hard. My oldest turns 16 this year, my middle 12, and my youngest is 5. I’ve had a child in the house since I was 18, and I guess I’ve got 13 more years? I suck at math. Anyway, it just horrifies me to think that 16 will be leaving in 2 short years…not ready. NOT READY! He says he’s going to California when he graduates, which is about as far from home as you can get. Your son sounds amazingly funny and intelligent; of course, I wouldn’t expect different from you and Randy! *hugs*
Oh god…maybe he’ll change his mind about California? My older son is talking about moving away ‘some day’ and he’s 26. I only encourage him…but inside I’m crying. So far, my baby boy is talking about Ohio State. I can handle that..that’s only 90 minutes away.
My son is less than two months away from his high school graduation. My “little girl” is starting high school when he starts college. I’m finding more and more things that make me nostalgic and teary eyed these days.
It’s crazy, right? I fucking cry over EVERYTHING these days.
Oh, happy birthday Joey. My OLDEST turns 15 next month and all I can think of is the one day in the not too distant future where he’ll be able to drive himself to all his own shit. I’m sure I’ll wax nostalgic one of these days…
I’m not gonna lie..it IS nice when they can drive themselves…
I feel for you. My oldest and I just got back from a 2-hour trip to the college town where she is registered and admitted for fall, and she got signed up for all her classes. We checked out her dorm and hung out at the co-op/hippie store in town. It’s a flippin AWEsome little town with a great university, and she’ll fit in so great there, and it’s so exciting.
She is an amazing, smart, funny, well-grounded young adult, and I’m crazy about the woman she’s turning into. But part of me is looking at my sweet picture of her on my desk, playing in the sand at the beach 14 years ago, with the sun shining on her hair like a little angel, and I think, ouch… *blink*blink* pass the kleenex…
I also almost started crying at the dean of students’ speech at the orientation, too, which was totally embarrassing…
Sister….I feel your pain. I do.
I feel a little better now since my little one got all pissy about having to take the trash to the end of the damn driveway. It helps dry up the tears when they act bratty.
His love of The Cramps is a sign of excellent parenting!
He was singing Goo Goo Muck before he was speaking whole sentences..
While you are being proud of your kid, don’t forget to be proud of yourself while you’re at it. A lot of people don’t do nearly as well at parenting, which, when you think about it, is one of the most important things anyone ever does…
Thank you, Doug. I really appreciate this. 🙂
saw your FB post and finnnnally making it over here.
happy belated to BOTH of you.
thank you Carla! Other than a teary start, it was a very nice day!
Oh dammit. I don’t want to think about this. Hang in there mama, they are always your babies <3
Thank you, gorgeous! And you’re right..they are always our babies…
My one and only boy was a hysterically funny toddler and grew into a wry and witty 19-year-old. He gave me a ton of joy and a ton of worry. I’m super lucky that he’s living at home while he’s going to college and that he likes to hang out with his mom from time to time. I will miss him like crazy when he decides he’s ready to be an official grown-up.
It’s nice when they like you, right? I guess it’s possible that he’ll stay home and go to college close by…but I’m not holding my breath on that one.