Being a mother of boys is a tricky situation. First they make you fall head over heels in love with them and then they pull away. They grow so fast they can almost look you in the eye and forget to hug and kiss you before they leave for school in the morning. All the while, you feel like you have whiplash because you swear two seconds ago they were holding your face in their chubby little hands promising to be best friends forever.
They try to push you away. That’s what they’re supposed to do at this age. It would be weird if your 11-year-old boy wanted to sit on your lap and cuddle, right? One side of your brain knows this logically, while the other half desperately wants to smother him with kisses and be crushed by his weight on your lap.
It seems like yesterday you were watching him ride his two-wheeler for the first time all dressed up in his favorite Batman costume. Today? He’s embarrassed to be with you at the zoo. Hanging out in his room playing Minecraft or playing Black Ops with his Dad are his favorite things. You are no longer at the top of this list. It hurts. Badly. You want to be his favorite. You want that connection. It feels as though it’s gone and you’ll never get it back.
But then you remind yourself to look closely. That connection is still there. You know it deep in your heart that his promise of being best friends forever still holds true. He asks you to play basketball after dinner. Just you. He legitimately beats you by 5 points and you marvel at how tall, how grown up, how mature he has become. He asks if you want to watch a movie after the other two are in bed. You share a pillow and watch Will Ferrell make you both belly laugh. While you’re making dinner, he casually walks in and asks if he can help. You offer peeling carrots because you know that’s his favorite job. At night, he still wants you to tuck him in, even if nowadays that just means a kiss on the forehead and a slight hug. Sometimes, after it’s dark and quiet, he’ll come to you with a problem or a worry. That beautiful little angel boy who was at your hip every second for so many years is still there. You just have to look a little harder.
Sometimes I wonder whether or not he’ll go through the “I hate my Mom” phase. Sometimes I feel very left out in the world of boys. Sometimes I worry that I’m just the meal-maker, the clothes-washer, the did-you-do-your-homework lady. But when I really stop and think and look at our little life, I see that he loves me. And he always will.
Elastamom's Excerpts 
So well put! I share some of these feelings as I watch my little 2-yr-old boy grow up 🙂
I’m sure you do, Dawn! They’re so cuddly when they’re little…just have to redefine “cuddle” as they get older I guess!Have a gre
As the mom of 3 boys (ages 16, 12 & 8)…..I know this feeling too well.
Hi Autumn! I’m sure you do. It’s hard to see th
Some of my boys were never cuddly (esp. the oldest! Altho that may be because of the shocking contrast after 2 girls…), but my little guy who is now 12 recently asked me if he could kiss me goodnight again. He was just following the older guys’ example when he gave it up a few years ago, but now that he’s his own man, he realized he missed it! Can it last?
Oh yes, those boys will always love you. I have two younger brothers and I watch them with my mom…they adore her. These brothers are now 37 and 29 and they are STILL mama’s boys. I love that about them. Your sons will always know how lucky they are to have you.
woohoo, you’re back! 🙂
I am so happy to hear that at 11 he is still showing you his love, even if it’s not the same as it was when he was younger. I think about this a lot since I grew up all around girls and now have a son. I get incredibly sad when I think of him pushing me away some day!
i’m so not ready for my baby boy to start to pull away from me. he’s five now…and will drop me in a hot second if he hears his daddy crank up the tractor. and i LOVE the middle picture of you giving him a kiss….the face is priceless!
Isn’t Gabe’s face the best?? I couldn’t believe my husband was ab
My son will be the first to tell you that he is a Momma’s Boy, and be totally okay with that.
Here’s hoping my two always stay Momma’s boys!
!END
Have a gre
Wow, these photos are just beautiful. You look amazing, so young and absolutely beautiful.
The pride and love you feel for your son is beeming from you. It’s so pure and perfect.
He is outstandingly adorable and handsome at the same time 🙂
Thank you for posting such special moments.
Your compliments warmed my heart, Heather! Thank you!! !ENDHave a gre