Yesterday I received one of those virtual slaps in the face that parents get as their kids grow up. I am talking about my oldest daughter Leatha today, she will be 10 in August! There is another one.
It has been a wild 10 years, full of new things since she was born. I can’t hardly remember what it was like before her though. (Warning: this post will probably be filled with cliches but I really mean them!)
And now a list of virtual slaps in the face,
1. A Girl! My first child is a girl! August 2000
2. She can walk!
3. She can talk!
4. She can run around and jump in puddles like it is the most natural thing in the world!
5. She can read!
6. School!
7. Little kid toys are too small, Big kid toys are almost too big!
8. Baptism at 8 yrs old!
9. Top of the 3rd grade!
10. Maturing at a frightening rate.
This last one is what I am on about today. It is very humbling to have your kids hit a point where they need things like deodorant. Now, Leatha is not one that is trying to grow up too fast. She is still trying to hold on to being a little girl. But, alas, she is growing up.
This past week she has grown enough and matured enough that she needs deodorant now. I am not complaining, I am not mocking this at all, it is a coming of age that everyone goes through. I just feel old and like a parent. Bah! I am just glad that my wife is in charge of the menstrual stuff, I don’t want to do that one.
I only hope that there are a few years that go by before that one because I really worry about the state of the world and the people in it. My wife had an 11 year old in the ER last week who was pregnant. My daughter is going to wear a suit of armor and I am going to escort her everywhere in about 6 months. With a club.
What do you all think???
-Justin
