Remember when we were kids, and someone would ask, “how old are you now?” Excitedly, proudly even, we’d answer, “nine, and I’m going to be ten in four months!” I was reminded of those days during the holiday. There were two older girls where we were staying, who were really sweet to Zee. Chatting to them, I asked how old they were, and the older one replied, “my sister’s eleven, and I’m twelve, but I’m going to be thirteen soon!” I caught that twinkle in her eye as she said the words, the barely contained excitement over the thought of getting older, becoming a teenager, being grown up and fabulous.
How things change… Hit your thirties, and there’s no joyful response to that question. A cynical snort maybe, or a scowl if you’re feeling particularly sensitive about the age thing that day. Funny how back then we couldnt wait for the next number, now that wait couldn’t be long enough.
On a serious note though, I’m going to be thirty five soon, and the truth is I’m ok with that. The part that scares me, is how quickly its come. Not in a bad way, like ugh I’m so old… am I going to have grey hair now?… are those marks on the mirror, or are they lines on my skin?… No, nothing like that – not that I want any of those delightful things which come with getting older, but I’m not losing any sleep over it. The part that actually freaks me out is that every year I get older, my little baby is growing too, and isn’t that much of a baby anymore.
On NYE, we were at my uncle’s place, together with my mom and dad. Zee was having a blast with my little cousins, playing in the pool at 10pm, chatting about ballet, and roasting marshmallows on the braai. She was having such fun, she was still wide awake at midnight! On hearing that it was 2017, she hugged me and said (beaming from ear to ear), “mommy, I’m officially seven and a half!”
You see, Zee is at that stage where she’s now counting down to the next age, and is quite excited about being “a big girl” – this, despite me telling her she’ll be my baby even at forty! 😀 She’d asked in November I think it was, if she was seven and a half yet, and I responded that she would only be seven and a half in January. Thus the excitement when the clock struck twelve. Needless to say, I quickly informed her that she would only be seven and a half at the end of the month, in an attempt to hold on to the baby-ness just that tiny bit longer.
Then yesterday rolled around, and Facebook gave me this:
Like, “your baby’s seven and a half now. Deal with it.” So I did, with a mini photo shoot of course, to remember the time my baby turned seven and a half. Officially. Because, what else can us mommies do, but stop being in denial, and accept the natural order of things… They will grow; they will become more independent, and say more often “it’s ok mommy, I’ve got this” *sniff*. They will eventually feel we’re not as cool as they once thought… And we have to deal as best we can, savoring every baby-ish moment along the way, taking as many photos as we can to treasure forever, and appreciating the moments when they need us even as they’re busy getting older and wanting to do it all on their own.
When a sneeze tickles your nose, but your mom won’t quit with the photos
Such a heartfelt post. I loved it. I totally know what you mean. Time sure does fly. My littlest one seems like she was just born yesterday and she is going to be turning a whole year old soon. The years, they sure are short.
Thanks for following my blog.
Thank you so much Suchitra! I’m glad you enjoyed the post, and that you could relate. 🙂
Thank you too for following. I really appreciate you reading and commenting. ❤
Oh I also meant to write that your daughter is stunning. I love her hair and the twinkle in her eyes. Her friendly personality already shines through in the pictures you have captured.
Thank you!! 🙂 She is such a little character – she has developed this sense of humour which cracks us up daily, and she is a very friendly little person. I’m happy to hear that comes through in the pics. ❤
In my twenties I hated my birthday. Every year I’d have a proper sulk and bad mood all day. Now I’m in my thirties, I barely remember how old I am when people ask me. I’m 35 turning 36 later this year. But … my eldest is going to be 6. SIX! and my baby is going to be FOUR! When did that happen?
#showmeyours
It’s not important anymore… now we have these little people, and keeping up with how quickly they’re growing is what actually matters. 🙂
I wrote a post once about how even with all the other drama and comparisons and such, the real worst thing about FB was how it throws stuff like that in our faces. I’m well aware of how fast time flies without being reminded #showmeyours
**tearing up** time flies hey
You’re almost 35? You’re still youth according to the constitution 🙂
Yep, I’m now 35… still a youth, I like that ?
Awesome post Charlene! Ur daughter is a cutie 🙂
Thank you Mira! ?
Oh my gosh I can’t imagine my baby being 7. My eldest is 2 and a half and my youngest one and half so it seems so very far away…no doubt i’ll remember this on the even of their 7th birthday as I start to sob! She is totally gorgeous by the way! Thanks for sharing at #familyfun xx
Aww.. they’re still so little – enjoy every second of them being babies!
And thank you so much! 🙂 xx
Your daughter is absolutely gorgeous. Her hair! <3
I'm a couple years older than you and while sometimes it scares me, I mostly embrace it. It's funny how cliche it is to say "time goes by so quickly when you're raising your kids" but omg how very true!
I wish we could get a slow motion or rewind button on life. Or a pause. I could deal with a pause. 🙂
Thanks for linking up to #ShowMeYours. Hope to see you back again.
Ah thank you so much! 🙂
Embracing it is the best thing we can do I think.
As for time moving faster once you have kids, I agree completely – I’d never felt time pass as fast as as it has since Zee came along.!
Awww what gorgeous pics , you’re so right the years just fly by . My eldest turns 17 in August , I’m not ready for this!!#postsfromtheheart
Thank you! 🙂
17… wow, so what you’re telling me is we’re never ever ready for it?!
It goes by so so fast. Where is that pause button? #postsfromtheheart
If only there was one!
Time really does fly! Awesome beautiful post hun!
#PostsFromTheHeart
Thank you so much! 🙂
I get this so much. My 3 are all desperate to be older, and I just want them to slow down as my baby is now 6 and my eldest nearly 11 – where on earth has that time gone? #postsfromtheheart
They want to grow up, and we just want them to stay little as long as possible!
Time does go so fast, it’s scary! I also remember the excitement of saying “I’m 6, but I’ll be 7 in two weeks!” In such a rush to sound grown up, and in a rush to grow up. You don’t have the hindsight to just enjoy being young when you’re little! #PostsFromTheHeart
So true, we used to be in such a hurry because we didn’t know any better!
I’m an August baby so the youngest in the school year & used to hate being younger than my friends – I don’t mind it now though! #postsfromtheheart
Yes definitely not a bad thing when you’re an adult 😀
Time really does fly by and it can be hard to keep up with how much they change. Beautiful girl and love her sense of style #Postsfromtheheart
Thank yo so much! 🙂