Seven and Four

The kids were focused, squinting in the sun as they poured water from the hose into the sandbox that had been transformed into a general mud pit in our backyard. They jabbed toy dinosaurs into the sand and grabbed super hero action figures, yelling dialogue and narration to one another during their daring rescue. I squinted too, trying to find the slightest bit of toddler left in their faces. It’s all gone in big bro’s, and barely a glimmer left in his little brother’s. They’re muddy, rough and full of noise and sass. They’re all boy, no longer baby.

This week, we took another step up the staircase of parenting, and while I reluctantly let go of the chubby toes and bulky board books of toddlerhood, I realize what’s ahead is so exciting. We’ve reached the sweet spot. That place where our kids still want us around and love to cuddle up to a movie on the couch but we don’t need to change diapers or bring anything more than a couple of water bottles when we leave the house. They play for hours on end with one another. They don’t have to go down for a nap. Best of all, they’re old enough to go on a hike, or spend a day sledding, or play at the beach. Our interests are colliding and they bring fresh new eyes to every activity.

This week, Big Bro turned seven. He reads above his grade level, he writes his own stories in his spare time, his imagination has no bounds, and he gets more curious about the world every day. It hasn’t been easy to answer all of his questions this past year, but he has taken every challenge, change and scare in stride, adapting and learning at every turn. While I hope year seven takes it easier on him, I know he can overcome any obstacle.

“Baby” Bro turned four. He will never pass up an opportunity to tell a poop joke, he draws better than I do, he’s fearless in the face of adventure and he’s still my little snuggle bug at bedtime. While he has less of a sense of what’s going on in the world around him, his laid-back personality lets him go with the flow and adjust to schedule disruptions and transitions quickly. His new sense of independence will have him taking year four by storm and doing things his way.

Mom and Dad are going to enjoy every minute with these goofballs.