Phase 1: The Twinkle in Your Eye.
"Shall we start a family, darling?" The biological clock ticks, the maternal instinct weighs heavy. Seeing babies everywhere prompts a sigh, "isn't she so cute?". All helped of course by the tiresome chore called "making babies".
Phase 2: Pregnant or not?
You missed your period and are trying to decipher your home preganancy test. Are you pregnant? Wow! A sweet baby face could be on its way. You ponder this as you run to the bathroom yet again.
Flash forward a few months. The kicks, elbows, backaches, and swollen ankles are part of your daily routine. Gross! Varicose veins. What happened to your body?
Wow - was that you swearing like a trouper? Puff puff, pant pant, "you *****ing *****, I'm never **** going to **** with you again! Oh, Oh, Oh, Ah... isn't she sweet? let's see. ten fingers, ten toes, Oh she's just perfect, isn't she, darling?"
Phase 3: Creating a "first" for every occassion.
You have lost your precious sleep time. Your nipples are beyond sore and you are going delirious from dieting. However, your precious bundle of joy can harm no one. She is perfect with a perfect smile. She just found her little toes. She tastes them. Maybe she is hungry you laugh.
A long list of first time events unfolds. She sits, crawls, stands, and walks to you all on her own. She can eat solid food and go to the potty. You are filled with immense pride. That is, until she has a tantrum, but the tantrum is only temporary.
The television takes place of fun, stories and games.
Your baby heads off to school. You are thrilled, but will miss her at the same time.
Phase 4 Playgrounds, parties and alphabets.
She is no longer your little baby. She goes to school. She wears a uniform that makes her look so independent.
Toilet jokes - everything and anything to do with pooping and peepee is absolutely hilarious!
Common "firsts" evolve to the first best friend and the first time facing rejection. She loves to run around the playground and ends up with bumps and scrapes. She realizes that life is not always fair.
You want them to be independent, but it is hard. Why can't you have the ability to protect them from the world?
Phase 5 - Reading, Riting and Rithmatic
The subject of play turns to math and english. She is a good student, but some students are not. You are lucky to have a smooth academic experience ahead of you.
She can be tough to deal with, but she is sweet when she asks for a pony for Christmas.
The temptation to baby her strong, but you remember she needs to do her chores.
Stage 6: She hits middle school.
They hit puberty and their body will be changing every day. The girls hang with the girls and the boys hang with the boys. Girls are too silly for boys. Girls think boys are not mature.
Your fashion sense will be out of style no matter what. No one wears the clothes you have in your wardrobe and your daughter will point this out to you. You will wonder what fashion icon your child is emulating.
Your daughter says popular words that you don't understand.
The training bra and makeup come on. Puberty wreaks havoc on voices.
Stage 7: The opposite sex suddenly looks attractive.
Boys and girls view each other differently now. They wonder if anyone wants to go out with them.
Your daughter gives you her advice and opinions whether you ask for them or not.
Parents are out of style while friends are the top of their social list. Your daughter wants to stay out till the wee hours of the morning with friends. Why not? Everyone else is staying out that late.
But, every now and then, you can have an amazing conversation with your new young adult - as long as you aren't trying to lecture them.
Your daughter has become an adult with goals, aspirations, and endless energy.
Phase 8 (well, who said I could count?)
So they've left home - but they are still your little darlings. Your worries and hopes for them continue.
You will always have a place in your heart for your children no matter what they do.
Life is short. Enjoy moments with your children whenever you can.
Dr. Noel Swanson regularly writes for Yes Parenting website and also has a free newsletter with heaps of expert parenting advice. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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