As I watch those two big permanent teeth cut their way into their proper spaces, I think about so many big-kid things that have appropriately worked their way into our lives and wiped out every inkling of infant-ness and toddler-ness our family has known. And because I have two older girls who have already passed through all of the phases that lurk around the corner for Meg, I know that each era of childhood really doesn't last long at all.
As we say goodbye to the Toothless Era, I am trying to etch the cuteness of each word spoken out of that little mouth into my brain forever. But the sad thing for me is that I also want to etch every heart-bursting skip, every squeal of excitement, and every proud new discovery into that tiny brain of mine too. Unfortunately, I know that way too soon, the tangibleness of six-year-old daily life will escape from me and my fading memory will be all that lingers from this stage of my six-year-old daughter's sweet life.
Experience with my older two girls has taught me that I feel better equipped to be a mom to older kids anyway and I think I like the job part of motherhood a little better as they grow. I find so much joy in being a mom to girls who are doing beautiful things with their lives as they discover more about themselves. But I still miss the wide-eyed excitement and exuberance of childhood that wanes as they grow up. If I could ever be practical and not emotional, I would be okay with all the changes that come along with growing up, but I kind of want to have my cake and eat it too.
Just because I feel a little more sane being a mom to older girls certainly doesn't mean I don't miss the days when Brita and Leah also spoke to me through teeth that looked like this:
Today those days seems like forever ago. Growing up is beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time. Oh, how I love these girls of mine.
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