I don’t write a whole lot about my kids here. I write about them, of course, and our life together. But I don’t often write about them, like tell stories that belong to them or share little pieces of who they are.
But today I’m going to.
This is Coco, I don’t use her real name here for several reasons. She’s turning 17 today and my mommy heart can barely take it. Of course, I’ve had plenty of time to prepare. She’s been reminding me that she’s “almost 17” since she was 16 and a half.
I had just turned 19 when I had her, not quite a grown-up, but not exactly a kid. I didn’t meet my husband until after she was born, so I always tell her that she was my first love.
All the things that go through your mind when you’re a mom are going through my mind today.
She’s growing up too fast. I remember when she used to hold my hand when we walked. Her first day of kindergarten. The major fit she threw when we told her in sixth grade that we’d be homeschooling the next year. The sweet victory when she fell in love with homeschool and announced that you ‘couldn’t pay her to go back to traditional school.’
But mostly today, I’m thinking of lullabies and rocking chairs, and a certain pink elephant. I’m thinking of bedtimes and how they’ve changed over the years.
This is the baby that wouldn’t sleep unless I was holding her, so I held her through every nap for an entire year.
This is the toddler that slept with Baby and Pinky, a doll and a pink elephant that would get worn beyond repair and are now living in her hope chest, ready to move on with her when she goes.
This is the preschooler that took pre-k in the class next door to the one I was teaching in and sometimes I would get to sneak in and rub her back at naptime.
This is the 6 year old that still crawled into our bed sometimes in the middle of the night, and prayed every single night at bedtime for a little brother or sister. She got one 🙂
This is the 9 year old that I let get up and watch I Love Lucy reruns sometimes when she had trouble falling asleep. We giggled and drank hot chocolate and broke all the bedtime rules.
This is the 12 year old that slammed the door to her room sometimes and went to bed angry, even though we are really against that in this house.
This is the 14 year old that had a really rough year and her mommy slept outside her bedroom sometimes.
This is the 15 year old that continued to have sleepovers with her little sister, inviting her into her room for the night and talked about boys and parents and ate too much candy. They still do this.
This is the 16 year old that shares her bed with me sometimes until 2 in the morning because we are talking and insists that I take her pillow to lean on, when we both know my pillow is steps away, but if I get up it might ruin the moment.
This is my 17 year old.
She’s growing up too fast. She’ll leave us, part-time, to seek higher education next year. She wants to be a sign-language interpreter or maybe a chef. She loves Jesus. She is very loyal, but can hold a grudge like you wouldn’t believe. She’s funny and smart, and oh so gorgeous. Boys fall at her feet. She sings. She writes. She sees when someone is lonely and reaches out to them. We laugh and cry and talk and sometimes, we disagree and we yell.
We love each other to pieces.
I’m not so sure what I’ll do or who I’ll be when she moves on and someday moves out. Raising this kid has been my life since I was pretty much still a kid. I have her sister to raise and her Daddy to love and help, but our family is four, not three. Four.
What will her little sister and I do without her dry wit during our homeschool days? Who will say,”Mom, you’re so weird!” at least once a day? What will I do when I’m worried about her at night and I can’t sit outside her door and know she’s okay?
And, yet, I can’t imagine things staying the same. She is so ready. Everything we’ve poured into her has been preparing her for this. The growing up, the moving on. She is bright and gifted in ways she doesn’t even fully comprehend yet. She has a God-given purpose and nothing could make me want to thwart that.
So, I will let go. When the time comes, and she’s no longer in my care and under my supervision, I’ll remind myself of this. That the Maker of the World has a plan for her. And when our house is a little quieter than usual and I’m missing my baby elephant, I trust that God will give me His peace that transcends understanding.
When she stands on the stage this coming May and graduates High School, I’ll know that I did my best and that she knows she’s loved. What more can any of us ask for?
I’m so proud of her and the person she is. We’re so alike, but we are also so very different. She is Coco, and there’s no one like her.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t rock your kids to sleep, or hold them when they nap. It goes so fast and I promise, 17 years from now you will not regret it, not even a little.
Amy Lopez says
Beautiful! Happy birthday Coco!
Tara says
What a wonderful tribute to your beautiful young lady!
Alex Green says
I’m not even a mother yet, and I cried reading this; I could feel the love in your words. Happy birthday to Coco 🙂
nikki marie says
i’m sitting here at my computer, in labor with my 5th child. My oldest is still 5 and time is flying by. This post made me cry for so many reasons. Well written, well said. A wonderful summary of motherhood (and daughterhood for me too, I think). Thank you for sharing!!
Homegrown Mom says
You’re in labor, or were when reading this?? So exciting!
Juanita Head says
Happy Birthday Coco!! Your daughter is absolutely beautiful. I feel like I know her after reading this. I know I still have 5 years before I am at this point, however already I am being reminded it is coming all too soon. I pray it all slows down. I also pray the relationship I have with my daughter is close to that of yours. I feel the love and shared some tears reading this!! Great job mom!!
Homegrown Mom says
Thank you! It does go so very fast, savor the moments!
sabrina says
What a beautiful post {made me bawl} and so is your daughter!!!
My kids are 4, 3 and 2…the 4yo is my dd and she is so strong-willed. I know this is a good quality to have as an adult but BOY oh BOY has she tested my patience on a daily basis since she was 18mths. I want to spend as much time with her as I can before those teen years come. Thanks for an insightful and helpful post…I’m going to hold her as long as she is little and pray that she’ll want to spend time with me as she grows into the teenage years.
Blessings and Happy Birthday to your sweet Coco!
Homegrown Mom says
I have a strong willed one, too, and she did mellow out. She’s 10 now and I can see her determination working FOR her in such good ways. Hang in there and keep loving who she is, you sound like a great mom!
Kathleen says
So true!!!! People criticize me for being to mothery but when my 14 yo tells me what an awesome Mom I am that’s the only opinion that matters to me. Love your babies the best you know how God gave them to you for that very reason! Happy birthday Coco !
mamala says
‘And Mary hid these things in her heart’ . . . . .
Words I gripped tightly when another of my children’s milestones came my way.
Childhood seems interminable for the child–A fleeting gasp for Mama.
You are the most conscientious mama I have ever known. Your children will hold you up as their icon, their true witness of what it looks like to have an unselfish, fully-intentioned lover of their souls guiding their steps–until it is time they make their leave.
Coco could have had an average mom. Someone dedicated to ‘finding herself’–leaving our Coco to face the world alone. Imagine what dastardly events may have befallen our baby girl–had her mama not been there–SWORD OF THE SPIRIT IN HAND–daring intruders to raise an eyebrow in our Coco’s direction.
You have accomplished what you set out to do–You have raised a most Godly, friend of the friendless, laughter initiating, wise-acre we simply could not live without. This tribute is stellar–which is no surprise–as is everything you put your hand to. Lovelovelove you, my daughter–a fine woman of God.
Homegrown Mom says
Thank you, this means so much coming from my own wonderful mom 🙂 Love you!
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