This is Rocket, my son’s absolute favorite thing in the entire world since my mom bought it for him a few years ago. Ever since he saw the show he had to have a “Little Einstein” rocket of his own. Once it landed in his hands life has never been the same.
My son recently spent the night at my parents’ house. We packed the car and returned home and as we were getting ready for bed I had that epic parent fail feeling – this was going to be of nuclear meltdown proportion on so many levels because we forgot Rocket at my parents’ house and they live over an hour away.
I didn’t know how I was going to break the news to my son. What was I going to say? How would he take it? I braced myself for buckets of tears, tons of whining and just lots of sheer sadness…
We reached his bedroom and I pulled the covers back as he began to climb into bed. His eyes soon wandered around his room looking aimlessly for his beloved Rocket.
I took a breath.
I took another breath.
Before I could even begin to soothe him with some mothering words in a gentle voice he said quite calmly, “Mommy. You know what? We forgot Rocket at Grammie’s house.”
I took yet another deep breath. “I know sweetheart, and I know you must feel sad right now, but…”
He interrupted me. “It’s ok Mommy. I don’t need him tonight anyway.”
I stood there motionless.
“I’m turning five soon you know. I am a big boy like Daddy says.” And with that he kissed my cheek, pulled the covers over his body and said goodnight.
And that was it, like he never even needed Rocket.
I was stunned and selfishly (I know this may sound crazy) somewhat disappointed. I was waiting to be THAT mom to give him the hugs he needed and to make him feel all better. I was prepared to ease his pain and calm him down. I anticipated a real heartfelt conversation as I wiped the tears away but instead, I left his room thinking that his toddler days will soon be over – and I have no idea where the hell the last five years went.
You could say I was the one with the nuclear meltdown that night.
Because I miss Rocket.
He’s growing up! It’s not fair! I have felt that epic parent fail feeling only to be amazed by the calm that my daughters exude at the situation. I say this almost every single day…Kids are amazing. They surprise you and make you laugh, cry, scream and sing. I am a completely different person simply because they are alive. It’s an amazing feeling…being a mom.
I know, it’s just not fair! 😉 Wasn’t ready for this yet, he caught me off guard!!
Oh Heather I know exactly how you feel. They do grow up so fast!
Last year my oldest as we were walking into daycare says to me “mommy I don’t need you to walk me into my room I can do it myself”..I said “oh ok”. and then when I got to my car I cried. I knew I should be happy that she is so happy and independent but I couldn’t help but feel said because she was growing up.
This post made me teary. The days, weeks, months, years are literally flying by for all three of my kids. My youngest just turned one and it’s hard to even remember what it was like to hold her as a newborn.
It all happens so fast… nice to know other mommies feel the same way.
Of course, there are “those days” where I just wish they’d be past the toddler stage or the waking up constantly at night stage. But I know deep down I am going to miss these moments when I’m old and grey.
Happy Wednesday everyone.
Maija
So nice to know I am not alone!!
great story! they do grow up fast
Its so bitter sweet when they start to grow up isn’t it? Especially when you don’t get you mommy moment in the sun.
First, we also have that Rocket at our house. 😉
Next, this gives me hope! Ellie sleeps with three {she found the two ‘back ups’ a few years ago!} Angel Dear pink poodle lovies. She must have all three to get in her bed. At this point I was thinking we would just pack them up with her when she goes to college in 15 years but maybe she’ll decide they are ‘for babies’ on her own and I won’t have to deal with it. But then I’ll be sad that my first baby isn’t a baby anymore and I’ll have the meltdown, too. 😉
That Rocket is the best, isn’t it???
They grow up so fast!
When my daughter was little we lost her favorite blanket at a mall. It was a traumatic experience for all of us. My son left one of his favorites at Grandma’s house and while it’s not the same as actually losing it, I was expecting a major meltdown. It turned out I was more upset than he was.
I so know the feeling. Buddy turns six on Sunday and my blog has been filled with nostalgic posts this week.
bittersweet moments as they grow up! what a sweet post.
Sometimes kids surprise you, don’t they?
Don’t worry, though. There’ll be another day, very soon, where he’ll really want and need both Rocket, and Mommy.
I actually would like that right about now! 😉
I kind of feel like you do, not wanting the toddler days to be over. My son is 10 though and it seems like just when he needs me for things, he becomes more and more independent and then he doesn’t. When he was about 5 he couldn’t find “Forrest”, his black stuffed bear so he left me a note on my desk since I was at work that morning so that I could find it for him when he got home from school. It said, Mommy, Find Forrest, Chris. Too sweet for words.
That is too sweet!!
Awww…he’s a big boy and it’s almost as if he’s the one that’s comforting you to let go of Rocket. My son doesn’t have any lovies so this is an area I’m not familiar with but when I see little children and their lovies I think it’s so cute 😀
They grow up so fast. Although with my kids, we don’t have meltdowns over things I think we will, and then we have meltdowns of epic proportions over things that would normally be no big deal. And it’s said that women are confusing. I think kids are WAY worse.
I have experienced the same exact thing! Can’t figure them out!!
Aw, hugs! I know how you feel. My son has replaced his lovey bear that he has had for 2.5 years with a Buzz doll. So I know he still needs that Buzz doll for sleep but it makes me so sad he has tossed aside his lovey bear!
I know how you feel! My girls were all attached to something and even to this day they have those items even though they’re 14, 10, & 8!
I’m wondering what my youngest will be attached to…. right now he’s only 6 months old and doesn’t appear to be attached to much of anything .. yet!
That will change mama – and you’ll turn around and wonder where the time went!!
I know how you feel! It’s not exactly the same, but I feel like my little boy is hitting a new milestone every day (he’s seven months), and it’s so bittersweet. We have always known that two was the right number of kids for our family, but I can’t help being achingly sad that I’ll never have a “baby” again!
My kids have surprised me like that too, and it makes me sad! It’s the realization that they are growing up – even at FIVE! It sure does pass by too fast. *HUGS*
Yes my friend, even at five.
it is hard to watch them grow up and need us a bit less. i miss rocket too.
Such a sweet post. I would have had a meltdown too!
i just had this feeling yesterday as my husband and i talked about whether or not we should put my oldest son in preschool. my husband turned to my son and asked, “do you want to go to school?” and he goes “yes! where are my shoes?!” and runs to the door.
talk about growing up too fast.
My daughter’s favorite, can’t sleep without it toy, is her bedtime bear care bear. The kind that came out about 3 years ago and smelled…it has seen better days. She had a meltdown a week ago when the seam at his mouth came open.
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That Rocket looks like he’s been well loved. Rah, rah, rah for Rocket!
Ours is a stuffed monkey that my daughter has had since she was 4 months old. When we left the monkey at grammie’s one weekend, I busted out the hidden replacement monkey that I had bought as a backup. She saw right through it. She wasn’t upset, but she told me she didn’t really need Monkey #2 because she knew grammie was taking care of Monkey #1. I was not ready for those words, either.
I so was not ready and yes, that rocket was very LOVED! 😉
Tears… true tears.
My older daughter is 4 and she’s been sleeping on/with the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland forever. I expect it to be on her dormroom bed – the idea of her not “needing” it anymore is something I’m not ready to deal with.
Of course, the most ironic thing is that my parents bought the toy and I despised it – didn’t want her to see it, use it, do anything with it. Now, I can’t imagine her bed being made without it on the pillow!
I couldn’t imagine it either, which is partly why I was so stunned it just “happened.” Yes, I was in nuclear meltdown mode and the tears on this post? Thank you for sharing – means that I reached to the heart of you, too.
My heart just melted…. We are way more attached to things than they are – emotionally and physically!
Sweet story your son is such a big boy !
How did that happen Connie?? 😉
I am so not ready for that moment. My son has a blanket he has been sleeping with since 2 days old & still uses it. He did have a lullaby cd that he listened to for bed since we brought him home from the hospital & only gave that up a few months ago.
They grow too quick!!
it’s like when they stop mispronouncing those last few words. you know they can’t say “I scot” instead of “I forgot” forever…but it’s a bittersweet milestone when they leave those things behind.
Dawn,
Yes – very well said. Bittersweet for sure…
I’m tearing up here. I so know what you mean. I just recently witnessed my Little Miss get attached to her lovies (yes, she has quite a few now) and it’s a milestone in itself. To watch them let go of their lovey is to acknowledge the next stage and time passing, and sometimes while they may be ready, we’re just not quite there yet.
Hugs to you mama. It’s a bittersweet moment indeed.
Awww… I remember those days! I nearly had a complete breakdown the day my daughter decided she was “too old” for Polly Pockets and dismantled all her dollhouses. She played with those every day of her life from age 4 to 10! It took me weeks to recover! ;0)
Hey, I’d love to hear about what you learned at BlogHer, by the way! We missed you while you were gone!
Thanks Melinda! I decided to wait until I go to the SITS conference in a few weeks and do one post about both venues since they are very different. Glad to be back in the blogsphere!
Aw, how bittersweet. Last year not long after my son turned 4 he gave up his blankie. Both of them (i had a back up blankie) were in the wash so he just did without it and I was also surprised that it wasn’t such a big a deal for him.
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I totally know how you feel. Even though Moo is only 19 months, she is so independent and I find myslef having selfish moments now that she feed herself and almost brush her own teeth. I feel like time is going by so fast and she won’t need anymore.
It’s sad to think that one day I will be going through that exact same thing! Thank goodness I have plenty of time ahead of me (my little man is almost 4 months), so I will cherish all the moments I can!
YUMMommy and McKenzie – Exactly ladies! There will be a point when we will not be needed as much and this moment solidified that…
It’s this sign of them growing up that just sometimes stabs us mamas in the heart. {{{HUGS}}} I don’t know why the years are so short when our babies are growing like weeds, but it definitely makes us want to treasure the days that are long!
I am trying – these are the days I wish I could hold onto!
{Hugs!}
Oh, I remember something like that happening with my oldest too. I was proud and bummed all in the same moment.
They do grow up so quickly.
Exactly, proud and bummed here, too!
Oh! Too sweet. And surely sad at the same time. {Hugs} to you, Mama!
I loved this post because, well, I would feel exactly the same. And you articulated it so well. As I read I worried, and then I my heart flip-flopped for you.
Is it ridiculous that this made ME cry? It’s because my three year old has this ratty pink bear named Burt that I know one day he’ll be okay without.
Here’s a post about Burt (and my fear of losing that silly bear):
http://www.adventuroo.com/2009/11/loveys-gone-pink-the-curious-case-of-a-boy%E2%80%99s-fave-companion/
It’s so sweet that your boy didn’t even cry. He must have felt pretty grown-up.
I will admit that this made me weepy. I MISS rocket too…waaaaah!
Wow! You were that great mother! Your son is maturing and able to be flexible. That is SUCH a wonderful thing! Enjoy!
Oh—how I can relate. Principessa gave up her “Sleepy Thing” in much the same way. How great of your son to make such a big boy statement!
I remember watching Peter Pan with my children and telling my youngest daughter she can’t grow up, even “scolded” her for growing. Now she’s 17 and starting college…
I remember the exact moment my youngest was crossing that threshold. The beloved blanket (called a beh-en for some unknown reason) was left after a sleepover at ‘gamma’s’. As I unpacked the tiny suitcase and noticed it wasn’t there, my heart sank. Gamma only lives 15 minutes away, but she had to go to bed early after their party the night before. Would I risk sneaking in & scaring the crap out of a 60+ year old woman? Yes, yes I would, if it meant sweet pea (and me) could get some sleep. As I tucked her in, afraid of letting her see my angst, she looked up at me with those huge blue eyes and said ‘gamma lovs da beh-en. She’s seepin’ wif it’. I don’t know if I have ever told her what a hero she was that night. Maybe I should. It was 13 years ago!
Thanks so much for sharing that Kelly!! What a story!
They grow up WAY TOO fast!!! Rocket is way cool.
Awww!!! He’s growing up!!!! What a big boy! It’s such a bittersweet thing. It’s great seeing our kiddos growing up, but it’s also a slap in the face that our babies aren’t babies anymore. Granted, my daughter isn’t even 1 yet, but I feel like I know this feeling all too well.
Agh, stop the clock! I know, it’s going by so fast! How does that happen? We blink and then they are different people! So bittersweet.
Eeek I would have had a meltdown too. Each night we tuck the kids in with their lovies and their dolls and I know that someday soon I will find one laying somewhere…abandoned…and it hurts to think how fast they grow!
I know exactly what you mean! When my daughter decided that she no longer NEEDED her favorite stuffed animal and blanket to sleep….I was the one melting down. They grow so so fast.
My son lost his Curious George lovey a few months ago in Babies R Us and I hunted that thing down for about 2 hours in the store never finding it.
My son didn’t seem to mind, but I was a wreck! Luckily we got a new George who looks curiously (LOL) like the old and I watch him like a hawk!
Love when they reach those milestones, but it is sad because they also do it when you least expect it!!!!
You’ll make it!