I Made A Huge Parenting Mistake and I Blinked

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Today, June 11th, my son Reece, my first-born child, turned 13 years old.

It’s official that we now have a teenager in our home and I absolutely can not believe it.

Last year I wrote a special post to Reece on his 12th birthday, but this year feels much more different and important. 

Time flies way too fast, and in fact it feels like only a few years ago that I was surprised (and I will admit a bit scared) with the news that I was going to be a mother for the first time. 

I blinked and Reece took his first steps, said his first words, made his first friend, went to his first day at school, went on his first trip, played t-ball for the first time, along with a multitude of other firsts.

I can vividly recall some of these firsts  just like they all took place yesterday. I can picture his chubby cheeks, the way he would scream and cry if I left him and the sound of his little voice talking and singing at 2, 3 and 4 years of age. 

Now that he has turned 13 I realized that I made a huge parenting mistake.

I made a mistake that I can’t take back or reverse. I made a mistake that every single parent has made, but for some reason I am really dwelling on it with this birthday.

I made a huge parenting mistake and I blinked.

Yes, you read that correctly, I blinked. 

Not long after Reece was born, I heard the saying, “Time flies faster than you think, so don’t blink“, but I didn’t truly understand the weight of those words until now. Now it is too late for me to try to rewind time, slow things down and savor each and every moment of Reece’s childhood just a little bit more. 

I know that I made a huge parenting mistake and I blinked, but now that I have opened my eyes and accepted the fact that Reece is 13 years old and I just can’t stop time no matter how hard I try, I have truly been able to see and appreciate the young man that he is growing into. 

I made a huge parenting mistake and I blinked.

I blinked and Reece went from a little boy to a generous, caring, thoughtful friend, an extremely polite and respectful young man, a person of integrity who will stand up for others and what he feels is right, a person who has a smile that can instantly brighten any space, a person who understands that life isn’t measured via social media likes or popularity but by his kind and loving heart.

I made a huge parenting mistake and I blinked. 

I guess blinking has some positive attributes, because I blinked and my newly 13 year son has grown up into a person whom I completely admire. 

When I had children I always thought that I would be a role model for them. Never did I imagine that my son would be a role model for me. 

Happy 13th birthday my dear Reece. 

Always remember no matter how old you are, “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.”

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