My kids are 7, 9, and 11. They are a true joy at these ages. I love to see them climbing trees--the higher the better. I love to talk to them. They're funny and thoughtful. They no longer throw things in anger, much anyway. They're all out of diapers and can stand long car rides. They choose their own music to play. The oldest painted his own room recently--the trim is a bit of a mess but he did it himself. He's fun--I swear I can read his mind sometimes. My 9 year old's smile can light up the room, and she can scale a straight lamppost in seconds. My youngest loves me to read to him and makes friends wherever we go. I can sleep on weekends until 8am--they can feed themselves in the mornings. They can even put themselves to bed if necessary, although I usually read to the younger two at bedtime and have "small talk" with the oldest--his choice of words. They are still young enough to cuddle (well, not my oldest so much, but he'll sit close to me on the couch, which is his way of cuddling) and will hold my hand while we're out. But when we get to a park, they run ahead of me to climb or play or make "temporary friends" (my daughter's choice of words). I can take them all with me to run into a store for one thing and it can actually happen without whining!
When I see moms out with babies, I smile and think, "I'm so glad I'm done with that stage." I loved the baby and toddler and preschool years, but I also cried a lot if I'm being completely honest. I think in hindsight I'm just not a baby person. I never want to hold someone else's baby. I loved holding my own, though, and I found wraps and babyslings to be a godsend. I remember being tired a lot, too--my kids are about 2 years apart and all nursed for almost 2 years, which means I was either pregnant or nursing or both for 7 years.
I think 4 and 5 year olds are the funniest people on earth. So many great ideas and comments from them. I tried to write a bunch down but could never catch them all. I remember not wanting my then-5-year-old to have to start 5-day kindergarten--I loved having him around to talk to on my two weekdays at home.
Two year olds are fun, but two of mine were tough at that age--when they weren't being adorable. I gave myself time-out sometimes to go punch my bed so I could get out my parenting frustrations without strangling anyone. I also found that when my 2-year old was being a PITA, I could switch up her mood by scooping her up and dancing around and kissing her. Dressing a two-year old is like dressing an octopus. But snuggling with a two-year-old child is so beautiful I could cry remembering it.
I am now in the golden years, which happens randomly at different ages for different families. Two years ago, a mom of older kids told me I was in the golden years of parenting and to enjoy it. She said this at a birthday party where one of my kids was having a meltdown and crying under the table because he got the "wrong" lunch order, another one was unhappy for being snubbed by the birthday girl, and the third was jumping all over the restaurant and causing a scene and probably trying to draw penises on the booths--I kept having to take the crayons away from him. I just nodded and said, "uh-huh, sure." But now I look back at that day and laugh.
