Sharing Shoes

Wichita KS

This weekend you went on your first overnight boy scout trip without your dad.  Your packing skills leave much to be desired.  Your dad still has to help a bit, because you think, if you throw a pair of underwear and a shirt in a bag-- even though you will never change either the whole trip-- that you are ready to go camping.  He helped you remember all the essentials and prepare for the rainy weekend ahead.  You are canoeing and fishing... your favorite thing right now.  You pack my, yes MY water shoes.  You can wear my shoes! At some point, your little feet that fit in the palm of my hand now fit into my size 6 shoes. 

I have mixed emotions about this. Mostly I am so grateful that you are healthy and growing and maturing.  And grateful that you can now go on trips on your own or stay home alone for a few hours, and I no longer have to pay for a sitter to go on a date night with your dad.  There is a newfound freedom in this ability and I REALLY enjoy that. 

You aren't to fully be trusted that you will go to bed when I ask, or brush your teeth, or not get into all the junk food, but I trust you will not burn the house down. I do know that I hear your feet run up the stairs and the bed creak under your weight as you slide under the covers as the garage door opens.  Still working on your Ferris Bueller tricks.

When you hug me, and you still do, your head rests against my cheek and my nose smells your usually sweaty and unclean hair.  You are so grown up.  Sometimes your dad and I repeat the phrases you used to say, ones I have typed in this very blog years ago, just to reminisce those moments. 

You still have a lot of growing up and maturing to do, but I'm pretty proud of the way you are turning out.  Keep it up sweet little angel. Keep it up.

Footnote: You now at 18 wear the same size shoe as your dad and you still eat any junk food in the house, when you haven't brought home your own junk from the store. When I hug you now my head rests on your chest.  As the Southerners say, "Bless."