Diane

Just thinking about when Diane was first born. It was just her and I. I wasn't married yet and I was young. Her crib was in my room, and when she would wake up crying at night I would put her in my bed and let her sleep with me. Every where I went I brought my little, baby girl. If I went shopping, I took her along. If I went out to lunch with friends, I took her along. If I went on vacation, even vacation with friends, I took her along. Such a strong bond was developed.
Then when I got married things changed a little. I had Andrew and much later had Cj . In my brother John's words, I became the "Playdate Mom on Crack". Basically that just means that we never stopped. She was involved in all kinds of activities karate, 4h, Word of Life, Kids Choir, plays, and if there wasn't a club then I started it. She had her friends over to stay the night and I would set up a big stage in the middle of living room and we would have a Barbie doll rock concert. Once we turned her bedroom in to a restaurant We got every blanket and afghan and laid them out on the floor for tables. I gave her and her friends little tablets to take orders. We literally spent hours playing restaurant in her room. I went to garage sales and bought her old prom dresses, suit jackets, purses, high heels, and she and her friends would play dress up all day. One summer we even had a Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe summer. Her friends came over a couple times a week and we read the book and wrote plays about it.
Before long she was this preteen arguing with me all the time. She had her own ideas about how things had to be done and she was very vocal about trying to exercises her independence. There were days when I seriously could have shot myself, not a fun stage at all.
It didn't last though and she turned into a responsible, grown up young lady that could be my friend. She could shop with me, be sarcastic with me, talk about wonderful literature with me, watch 80s movies with me, tell me what to wear and what not to wear, share my jewelry, and steal my shoes.
Now, she's at school and I have to wait 12 more days before I get her back for just a short visit.
Parents, enjoy every little moment with your kids. Day by day it seems like it will last forever, but they are growing up so fast, and before you know it the time to enjoy their childhood is past.