One of these days you’ll explode and shout to all the kids, “Why don’t you just grow up and act your age!” And they will…
Or, “You guys get outside and find something to do — without hurting each other And don’t slam the door!” And they don’t.
You’ll straighten their bedrooms until it’s all neat and tidy, toys displayed on the shelf, hangers in the closet, animals caged. You’ll yell, “Now I want it to stay this way!” And it will…
You will prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn’t had all the olives picked out and a cake with no finger traces in the icing and you’ll say, “Now this is a meal for company.” And you will eat it alone…
You’ll yell, “I want complete privacy on the phone. No screaming, Do you hear me?” And no one will answer.
No more plastic tablecloths stained. No more dandelion bouquets. No more iron-on patches. No more wet, knotted shoelaces, muddy boots or rubber bands for ponytails.
Imagine…. a lipstick with a point, no babysitters for New Years Eve, washing clothes only once a week, no PTA meetings or silly school plays where your child is a tree, no car pools, blaring stereos or forgotten lunch money.
No more Christmas presents made of library paste and toothpicks, no wet oatmeal kisses, no more tooth fairy, no more giggles in the dark, scraped knees to kiss or sticky fingers to clean.
Only a voice asking, “Why don’t you grow up?” And the silence echoes: “I did”
- Erma Bombeck.
Tags: graduating, moving out
The author of this article was Erma Bombeck. I remember when she wrote it and it was published when my children were small. I clipped and saved it and have remembered it many times while my kids were growing up. It is as timely now as it was 30+ years ago.
I agree with you! My mom had this hanging in the kitchen when I was in Jr. high and high school and now I have it in my kitchen. With three kids (one a junior) I look at the poem all the time and realize how true those words are!!! I know it’s cliche, but the time really does go by so fast!
I have two boys, a senior and a freshman in high school, and I look back at the times when I thought, “I sure hope they get through this stage quickly!” But the next stage was always just as challenging. Now when I hear young parents talk about those early difficult stages, my comment is “As difficult as things seem, just remember that you never know when you’re going to get that last big hug (willingly). So enjoy those wonderful moments and don’t focus on the stages.” Hopefully that day never comes, but sometimes our kids (especially boys)get stingy with those hugs.
I have an Ann Landers article dated Feb 21, 1986 with this poem. It touched me so as life was trying with a 3 year old, a 1 year old and a husband that traveled. The article has purple marker scribbled on it (my 3 year old). At the time I was bummed that my son scribbled on it … now it makes it that much more special. As I wait for my first grandchild to arrive, I re-read this article with a tiny ache in my heart … and will pass it on to my daughter in law and son to remind them how quickly the time passes.