12/05/2025
What no one tells you about being a parent…
The growing pains aren’t just theirs.
Sure — they get the leg aches, the big feelings, the tears over things they don’t yet understand.
But for us?
The pain is quieter.
Hidden in the last time they do something… and you don’t realize it was the last time until weeks later.
The other night, I stood and rocked Aly for the first time in a while as I was about to put her to bed.
She looked up at me and asked,
“Whaya doin, Dada?”
I said,
“I’m rocking you, baby. I don’t know how much longer I will get to.”
One day, she wraps her hand around just one of your fingers.
Then two.
Then your whole hand.
One day, she’ll stop reaching for it at all.
One day, she says “I do it myself” — and she buckles herself in.
No hesitation. No help needed.
You’re proud… and your heart aches.
One day, she stops saying “Motorsnycle” and says it correctly.
But you “correct” her because you’re not ready to let that cute pronunciation go.
The growing pains?
They’re not just in their legs.
They’re in your heart.
In your memory.
In little bits of knowledge, like knowing she’ll be too big to wear her favorite Christmas sweatshirt next year.
In the little moments you know are gone… or will be soon.
So you try to remember to stay a little longer at bedtime.
To listen a little more even when your overstimulated.
And stay as present as you are able.
