My sweet and loving ten year old son has made me many cute little drawings over the years.
But lately, I’ve noticed a very disturbing trend.
Age 5:
(Kudos to him for getting my teeth and eyes just right…)
Age 7:
Age 10.5 (today): This is what he left taped to his bedroom door:
I get this feeling he’s trying to tell me something….
I recommend hoarding chocolate to get you through until college.
I might not ever speak to him again until he’s 30 at this rate.
You will probably have nothing to do with it. I have to text my son and ask him to call so I can hear his dulcet tones. He responds “Hahaha.” Which in twenty-something-ish means “Yeah right Mom.” Sigh.
Y’know, I think getting a cell and texting him might be the key to us communicating at all now, Elyse!
Hey!!! Darla, I just saw your BLOGGER OF THE MONTH — and it’s me. I’m so very honored. Really. And I don’t even mind that you gave me the shortest month of the year. Really!
XXXX
Yes, BUT, you will be up there for the entire month of March as well because I just put you up there…. Aren’t you lucky??
I am lucky to have such a generous blogging buddy. One who makes me feel special and forgives my obliviousness at the same time.
Thanks!
This is what bloggy friends are for, Elyse. To remind each other of our awesomeness and/or cluelessness.
I AM lucky. And forgetful because I thought I already said ths.
Reblogged this on Aisuka Susumu and commented:
Sameee!
Oh, I remember well the “transition” from bed time stories and spontaneous hugs to closed doors and no eye contact. They come back around. My son will be 24 this year and I am beginning to see signs that the curse is being lifted.
Ah! Well, at least I know when he’s in his twenties there is hope. Course I’ll be close to 60 years old by then and in a nursing home but still…
Maybe he will come by and roll you out into the sun.
Haha! I can only hope…
Who’s this Reki guy, and why did you want to do him?
You are so very close to the “Leave Me Alone!!” stage. So very close. I was joking with my 7 year old son last night when he tried to sit on my lap that soon, he wouldn’t want to hug and kiss on his mamma and would be saying those 3 little words. So, all night he rolled his eyes at me and said, “whatever, mom, whatever.” He was just trying to rile me, but the good thing about a 7 year old is when you say, “very funny, but that’s enough, it’s getting annoying,” he actually stops.
I fear the teenaged years. Stay strong, Darla. Wine and chocoloate are your friends. And Reki too, apparently.
I just spit out my water with your “reki” comment.
Oh the hugging thing ended a few years ago for me. He won’t even let me touch the top of his head as he runs by me now!
Oh, the sign on the door phase. Mine lasted until I moved out.
I still have one on my door for my husband: “If you don’t have chocolate or wine with you: Enter at your own risk”
it all starts so young these days – and the teenage years — they are as bad as you hear, but also wonderful – I was afraid to have kids because they turned into teenagers–I was right to be afraid–but they are in their twenties now and I lived through it (just barely, after putting the knives that were in a wooden knife holder away)
Good tip about the knives. I never thought of that one.
it is very important (lol)
See, there are so many things I need to learn. I’m really scared now.
You’ve just gotta’ love them!
From a safe distance with no eye contact.
My son has never done anything like that. He’s almost 14. I think he knows that if he did, I would make him stand out in the snow until he found some perspective. I’m not kidding.
On the other hand, if he is whacking off — I suppose he is just being courteous. And he did say “please” three times. Maybe cut him a little slack before you throw hm to the wolves.
But keep your cookies close.
Oh I get what you’re saying but to be clear, my son still shares a room with his sister. it’s not like he did it out of spite or to defy me in any way. My son always has the utmost respect for me and is always as sweet as can be….I think he did it because they’re watching a movie on DVD right now and also because they want nothing to do with me anymore.
We are trying to convince him to move down into the basement bedroom before his hits puberty. As for now, he’s still fairly innocent enough (I know that will change drastically in the next year and I really do pray I survive it)
Ohhhhh! So it was more like a “Shhhhh! A movie is in progress” kind of moment! Hahahahahaha! That’s awesome.
Gotta say, he’s one savvy little kid. He instructed you to leave food and drink on the floor. My daughter wrote a similar note on her door, only she fogot to request room service!
See, Anka, that is the part I found the most funny. “Leave food or drink on the floor”. He’s a very clever boy. Don’t know where he gets it.
Oh yes, the notes and signs on the door. Yep, this sounds very familiar. Good stuff! : )
I can’t wait to see how the notes on his door progress over the teen years…
Okay, Darla, I know about chocolate, for sure I know about it and it’s joyous ability to cure all female wounds, but what the heck is Reki???? I feel very sheltered all of a sudden, lol. I actually like your sons polite note. It’s politely shunning, LOL!
Wow, I totally needed a laugh this morning after Maycee being sick for two weeks straight now…thaaaaaaank YOU! XOXO-SWM
Oh, don’t feel sheltered at all. It’s Reiki. I was training to do Reiki a few years ago (it’s a type of energy healing) I was very impressed by how polite my son was in his note as well. He was basically saying “Um, Mom keep out! But I mean that in the nicest way possible…” Sorry Maycee’s sick for so long. Julia has a horrible cold/cough for a few weeks now she just can’t shake.
Things might get a little dicey over the next few years, but boys always love their mommas. He’ll come back to you.
I know you’re right. He was a total Mama’s boy for so long! My daughter on the other hand…I fear she’ll be harder to come back after the teen years.
Eeep. How’s your stash of booze? However big it is, you may want to consider adding to it ASAFP. Also, how old is your daughter? Because as bad as preteen and teen boys can be, I’m guessing girls are just as bad if not worse. And from what I remember of my own preteen/teen years, it wasn’t pretty. But I LOVE that he almost spelled Reiki correctly. He could have gone with Raykey or Rakee, but he was close.
Weebs, I shudder at the thought of my daughter in five years (she’s six right now) I think I’d better appreciate the close relationship we have now because it will definitely change once she’s a tween/teen. I was pretty awful at that age.
I agree, he really did a great job trying to spell Reiki! He loves everything about Reiki and asks me to do some on him all the time, it’s really cute.
And so it begins……
Nooooooooooooooo! (whenever I see that line, I can hear George Clooney in the movie The Fantastic Mr. Fox)
Your son said a lot more than my child did: KEEPOUT!
I seem to remember that’s all my brothers ever wrote on their signs. They were to the point.
My son is 10 too. 10 1/4 to be exact. And I see a similar trend happening here. Although my son’s bedroom is quite small; and since he’s got a huge sheet of plywood with trains on it in there, there is even less room. In fact, I can now say that it’s so small, he has to go outside to change his mind. So, he doesn’t hide in there a lot, yet. He has taken to flopping in my bed, however. Something about it being more comfortable than his bed.
Loving his increased independence!
Ah, see you and I will be going through the same things at the same time! Great, we can commiserate together! My kids’ room is big, but each one has one side and so far, they get along, but next year I foresee him wanting to move downstairs into his own space and then I’ll never see him again.
The plywood platform that is his train layout, moved upstairs to my office/ guest bedroom over this past weekend. I can see that it won’t be long before he moves into that room, and his micro bedroom becomes my office (as it was before he was born). Just not looking forward to moving the oak rolltop desk downstairs.
It’s only a matter of time before you’ll have to “friend” him on Facebook just to be able to stalk him sufficiently to have a clue what he’s up to. Since you’ll be paying his cell phone bill for the next 10 years or so, make sure he’s required to answer all calls and texts from you within 30 seconds or lose the phone. That’ll take the fun right out of it for him.
Ooh, I love your advice. He’s asked for a cell phone for a few years now and we’ve managed so far not to give in. But I know when he starts dating (yikes!) in a few years, I’ll want him to have one. I dread that day. I can’t text– I have no clue how to do it.
Texting isn’t too tough – you’ll pick it up. ull lern 2 spel da nu way 2.
I have no idea what you just wrote. I am doomed!
Maybe if you showed up at his door with some chocolate and some Reki he’d let you in?
heehee I’ll have to try that. I’ll try anything.
At least he’s polite about it. He doesn’t think he wants anything to do with you, but don’t worry, he still needs you. I’m sure he needs you to drive him to soccer practice or something.
ha! Yup, exactly. Sigh. I remember wanting my dad to just drop me off places…just pull up slowly so I could jump out of the car so no one would see I was with my dad.
Don’t worry, Darla– I’m sure it’s only a phase. Aren’t all boys Mommy’s Boys? I love his summary of you at age 7. Reiki and chocolate pretty much sums it up.
When I first read that, I immediately thought “Aw! He thinks I’m beautiful! And COOL?!” He’s a charmer that boy…
So, when d’you think he’ll take the notice off the door? When he’s 25, maybe?
My guess is it’ll be up there forever, Val.
Yes yes those were the days. I used to call them momcations. Then they moved out, begged for money, dinner and to move back home. Love this while you still can. It is the only peace you will have for a long time
Now I like that way you think! Yes, it is a good thing…like a calm before the storm. Love that.
I don’t know what doing Reki is, but sounds like something we need to see in your next Vlog.
That would be possibly the worst vlog ever, Steve. I would totally do it, too.
Hang in there, Darla. It does get better, and he will treasure all you’ve done.
I know you’re right, Judy. It’s just odd how you can be the center of your kid’s universe, then overnight they want nothing to do with you. (well, until they hit 30….)
Oh, he’ll want to talk to you, when he needs money, is about to flunk out of a required college class, or his heart gets broken…It is their job to grow away and apart – our job to let them go. It’s not all that fun but necessary. I am surprised he still wants to share a room but that is kind of sweet.
I think he’s on the brink of wanting his own room now, Katy. As much as he adores his sister.
I love his choices: My mom likes chocolate. My mom says “good morning”.
I’d love to know what he’d say of you now … more like my mom says “Shuttup”
I still giggle when I read he wrote: my mom says “Good morning” because I don’t think I’ve EVER said that to him in my entire life. I’m pretty grumpy in the morning. But I should be thankful he didn’t write in something else.
Hilarious!:
I think you have just entered that “fun” age. Hey. At least he has great penmanship!
His handwriting is better than mine, Susie.
I’m just impressed that he did say please.
He’s nothing if not polite.
At least he said “please” — and you can come in “if it’s important”.
I wonder what he’d consider important though?
This is so true!
And yes, as others have said, the fact that he includes “please”. Good kid.
P.S. You have a mouth full of teeth, Darla. I sure hope you are brushing and flossing daily.
My teeth have never looked blacker. He always gets my likeness down perfectly in his drawings.
Please send me a copy of that Age 5 picture so that I can use it in my next birthday card to you, a la B Man’s birthday card circa July 2012.
JD, I am FINALLY going to be mailing out to you an envelope chock full of goodies like the drawings above.
I CANNOT WAIT.
It’s sitting on my kitchen table. I just said to Jim, I have GOT to mail that sucker out finally!
I bet you could go in if you needed chocolate. That sounds important.
Pretty soon, you’ll be skydiving with him just so you have some together time. No, I did not go, canceled because of fog, but my son went a couple of days later . . . . I love the twenties because that is when they come back and even though they don’t know all of the hell they put you through (and won’t until they have a 12 year old), they do get that they could have been a little easier on you. As for communication, I text, “Are you alive?” They text, “Yes.” And we all have a good day.
After reading your comment, I’m hopeful when he’s in his 20s I might have an entire conversation with him again. It’s really strange because he was a typical ‘mama’s boy’ and we were like two best friends when he was little. We did everything together! Sniff, sniff. Now, when are you planning on going skydiving??
He wrote you are beautiful and cool. You will adapt handily, I think.
That did make my day, Patti! Which is why I had it framed and hung on the wall.
You should start preparing yourself now for the things he’s going to put on his door when he’s about twelve.
Noooooooooooo! I’m scared now.
ohhh.. that is seriously disturbing… I used to be sweet to my mom when i was young… and still sweet today and forever
I want to keep my son five forever!