Maybe He's Right

It occurred to me today that my son may be right on the whole my-being-old issue. Or at least I may not be young anymore. I find myself not envying parents with small children anymore. I love little kids, don't get me wrong. I think they're adorable and funny and I enjoy being around them. I just don't want them to be mine anymore. I'm starting to side with the grandparents in the whole "spoil them, then send them home" controversy. Up until now, I've always sided with the parents.

There was a time when I wished I had more than one kid and I envied people their several kids. Not anymore. I'm almost done. My kid is on his way to university in the fall. I'm on the downhill slide. I've made it passed diapers, dirty faces, snotty noses and rude manners.  Okay, I'm still working on that last one. I don't have to worry about the school nurse calling or the school principal. I still do his laundry, but that's going away in September. I don't remember the last time I kissed a scraped knee, although I kind of wish I did. I don't have to worry about little boy haircuts, of course he doesn't cut it at all anymore. 

When my friends are interrupted by their children and they have to deal with the minutia of parenting young children, I sit back and relax and try to look sympathetic. I am sympathetic, I've been there. I know what it's like. Besides, I like their kids.  I don't mind having them around and even look forward to seeing them. If a friend asked, I might even babysit. It sounds like fun. I could spoil them rotten, then send them home.