I ’ ve noticed something peculiar about this stage , though . When we have small children , moms talk to each other about how we ’ re feeling . We discuss all of the love , joy , exhaustion , and worry . There ’ s a sort of camaraderie among moms of little kids . When we have big kids , especially middle schoolers , moms seem to talk about what we ’ re doing . They tell you how busy they are with this sport and that event , and no one says a peep about all of the crazy swirling emotions that comes with parenting kids this age . This is the age when the end comes into sight , and I have to tell you , it ’ s pretty scary . I ’ m no longer the center of my kids ’ universe . They ’ re pulling away little by little , and it ’ s a painful process . This hit me like a ton of bricks out of the blue one day , and I remember sobbing about how I ’ d never be so loved again . It was a raw , deep , and beating kind of ache . I know my kids still love me , but things change between us as they grow up , and I know that soon , another will steal their hearts away and I ’ ll be lucky to get so much as a phone call . It ’ s all perfectly normal , but that doesn ’ t make it less painful , and yet it feels weird to talk about it . Who wants to seem like a clingy mom who can ’ t let go of her precious snowflake ? So , instead of revealing my aching heart , I just say things to other parents like , “ Yep , we have this tonight and that tomorrow . Always busy !” Then , we go our separate ways , our hearts still aching over the loss of those years when their little hands wrapped around our fingers and they curled up in our laps , and our anxiety for their futures is at an all-time high . So , if you ’ re feeling alone in this today , I just want you to know that you aren ’ t .
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