Bug

Eight

8-1

 

Bug is turning eight tomorrow. EIGHT!  I can’t believe it myself. She has been everything I ever wanted in a child. More than I ever expected. She is every joy I ever dreamed of and more! She’s such an easy and good kid, I don’t know how I got so lucky. I’m waiting for her to turn into a teenager and suddenly become a holy terror and make up for how pleasant she’s been all these years.

Sure, she’s gone through a few whiney stages and then there was that one year that she tested out lying but lately I can’t complain about anything. I’m getting off easy in the mothering department. From age four to now she has been a dream child. She’s so much quieter than most kids. She doesn’t bounce off the walls or shout or bicker. She’s thoughtful and smart. She never needs help with her homework. All I need to do is sit her down and provide her with quiet and a snack and just does her work without complaint.  She rarely talks back to me. She stops when I tell her to stop playing that silly cups song she’s so attached to.  She reads and plays and hardly makes a mess. What kind of kid doesn’t make a mess when they play?  She gets excited and will jabber on like a normal girl but she’s just such an easy child. I think God knew what I could handle and gave me an extra special care package for delicate mothers.

I’m holding onto that care package with all my might. I know it’s going to vanish before I’m ready. Life is going by so fast. It’s easy for me to get caught up in my work and friendships and spread myself thin. I’m guilty of that. I’m a very social person and I love my job. We have a very full life. Everyday we are doing something new and sometimes it seems like I’m just fitting her into the leftover space in my schedule. I don’t want that for her.  I know I felt that way with my parents busy lives and I resented it. But here I am doing the same thing.

Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing. I grew up to be a pretty motivated adult and maybe I learned it from them. I don’t know…

All I know is that the other day I was walking behind her at school drop off and admiring her healthy little behind thinking, she’s got her mother’s back side, poor kid. She’s not a little toddler anymore. I am not the mother of a little kid anymore. She’s growing up and she’s beautiful. I just want to treasure every moment before it’s gone forever.

13 Comments

  • Justyna

    Happy 8th Birthday Bug! I started reading about you when you were just born, so this is so exciting! My little girl is turning 8 soon too.

  • Natalie

    I started reading you when I was pregnant with my daughter. Bug was 3! Now she is 8 and mine is 5. You are right, the time, oh it just flies by and causes dusty eye syndrome every time you think about it.

  • Cathy

    But Bug was just four yesterday, how could this be? I could have written this post about my own daughter 10 years ago – she’s a good kid too. It goes by soooo fast – it’s great that you’re documenting with this blog etc, wish I would have (although I had dinosaur dial-up 10 years ago!) And it’s also great that you’re taking care of you or you wouldn’t be in such great shape to be a good mom to her….Happy 8th Birthday, Bug! Is there a party on the horizon?

  • BeachMama

    Eight!!!!!???? Wow. I kinda feel old now as I started following you just before you went to Paris with your Mom. Bug is a super duper kid, you have been Blessed and I pray that she is an easy teenager for you as well. Wishing her a fabulous 8th Birthday tomorrow!!

  • Susan:)

    Happy birthday to Bug! I’ve been reading about her since before she was born! She reminds me a lot of my older niece, who is turning six in a few weeks! They have similar temperaments and fashion sense, as far as I can tell!

  • Hil

    That Bug is a striking beauty, just like her Mom! I so much love following your adventures, don’t you dare leave us for instagram! You give me so much inspiration. xxoxoxo

  • Alex

    I, too, follow A Bug’s Life, but only for about a year. I’ve been waiting for The Birthday Party Edition of blog entries! What is the party? Big? Small slumber party? Theme?
    I found SAJ because of a mutual love of celebrations! Sigh. I might have to get an Instagram account!!

  • a chris

    I wonder why I was not quite this surprised a year ago when she turned seven.

    Those are getting to be real numbers there. When you’re eight, you’re really starting to be (and know) yourself. Happy belated birthday, Bug!

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