You’ve been on this planet how many years?!?!?! Are you sure?

Tomorrow is my youngest’s birthday.  And I’m sitting here staring at my computer thinking…  how the heck did eleven years go by so fast???  It just doesn’t seem like she’s been here that long.

My oldest daughter is turning 16 next month.  This should be causing a panic attack of massive proportions.  But is it?  Nooooooooo….

(I’m not positive, but this could be due to a bit of denial on my part – I’ll have to get back to you on that.)

Instead, I’m freaking out over a birthday that really isn’t all that “important”.   As far as birthday’s go, 11 isn’t a milestone.

Birthday #1 is always big because hey…  you kept a tiny human alive for a whole year!  The first birthday is never going to be remembered by your child.  I’m pretty sure this is a celebration for us, as parents.  We pat ourselves on the back and prepare for…

The terrible two’s!  

I don’t know about any other parents out there, but my kids didn’t so much go through the terrible two’s as they did the tantrum three’s.  Something about being 3 made my toddler feel independent and confident.  “NO!” or “NO, NO, NO!”  seemed to be both their favorite words…

My eldest also learned to “stretch the truth” about this age.  By the time she turned 4 it seemed like I was constantly asking “Is that what really happened?”

90% of the time the answer began, “Well, actually, mommy…”

If you’ve ever read the Dr. Seuess book And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, then you know what I’m talking about.

Then they turn 5 and start kindergarten.  This is when I learned that they don’t really need me anymore.

While I was in mommy meltdown mode getting her on the bus that first day, my eldest daughter didn’t have a clue what my problem was… I don’t remember what her exact words were, but they were along the lines of “suck it up, buttercup.”  (Remembering back to that time in my life, I’m surprised she didn’t tell me to get my big girl panties on and get over it.)

And the next big birthday isn’t supposed to be until they turn 13…  after that it’s 16…  and of course 18, 21, 30, etc.

So why is #11 freaking me out???

Honestly, I don’t think it’s the age.  I think it’s the realization that these 11 years have gone by SO fast.   She’ll be getting ready to graduate high school in another 6  years…  and that’s not enough time!

(Hmm…  perhaps this is all stemming from the denial I referenced earlier?  NAH!)

Believe me, I’m enjoying every moment I have with my girls.  It just seems like the time is going by way too fast!

Do you ever just look at your kids, siblings, nieces, nephews, or friend’s kids and think…  where the heck did the last ___ years go?

Then again,  maybe it’s just me…  sometimes I think I’m the only parent  who isn’t anxiously counting down the days til their teenager grows up and moves out.