Kids grow up by increments. Little by little. But I think, now that I’ve been through two, I know when they’re well and truly no longer babies. It’s not walking and being a “toddler.” It’s not pre-school. It’s not that all imporant Big Boy 5. Not even the start of kindergarten.
It’s when they’ve lost both their front teeth, and both front big teeth come in. That’s when they truly become gangly little smelly boys instead of you seeing that little baby inside. They’ll always be my babies… But they’re not babies anymore.
I’m doing NaBloPoMo, are you?
I think for me there will be an element of bitterness when those teeth fall out. Those teeth represent long nights holding a teething baby. Motrin and Tylenol. Teething tablets and fevers. Drool, and ear infections. I worked HARD for those teeth and then they just go and FALL OUT. Yeah, there will definitely be some bitterness there.