February 26, 2014

It's Gone Before You Know It



I was putting Miss T (aged 8) to bed the other night, and as I tucked her in, I noticed a frown on her face.  Instead of the usual happy smile, she looked worried.

What's up love?  What's wrong?

Silence.  The frown deepened and the bottom lip quivered.

Tell Mummy.  What is it?

With that her face disolved into sad tears and jumbled words.

I'm really scared that when I have a baby, it's going to really hurt.......

What the?  Where did THAT come from.  Seriously you are only 8 years old child, why are you even thinking about this!

A few days before, the kids and I were having a chat about babies, about how wonderful it was being pregnant with each of them.  How they kicked me inside my belly, and how they moved around and generally had a big party in there.

I haven't even really spoke to her about "how exactly" each of them came out, only to say that they were born and they were beautiful.  That discussion is for another time when she's older, and I'll be honest, but kids talk at school, and discuss all matter of things so I'm not surprised this has been mentioned and has somehow stuck in her head.

I sat on the bed and hugged her and said "yes having a baby does hurt a little (cue the gentle approach for now), but it mustn't be so bad if I went back again and again and had THREE children", what do you think?

She thought about this and agreed.  Her sad face softened and she relaxed, content with this explanation......for now.  It's amazing how little minds work, how they take everything in and try to make sense of what they are simply too young to understand.

Childhood is so fleeting, really. One stage leads to the next and before you know it, they are teenagers, sulky one minute and hilarious the next. 

I look at photos of how my children have grown, and blossomed through these stages, and I hope they will look back on fond memories of their childhood full of love and laughter and contentment.

And they will smile.

1 comment:

Farmers Wifey said...

Oh Mimsie, that's so funny, the way kids think about things!! They take it all in, very serious sometimes too! xo