By Staff
Melissa Cason
We celebrated a small milestone in my household this week. I spent Thursday morning at the elementary school registering Cameron, my youngest child, for kindergarten.
While most would consider the day he goes not the day he registers a milestone, I consider them both to be significant days.
We got there on time to find a mountain of paperwork for me to complete. While I was busy doing the necessary paperwork, Cameron spent time with a kindergarten teacher so she could evaluate how much he already knows before school starts. When they were done, he colored a picture while I was on my four millionth form.
As I sat there working on the necessary documents, it hit me. My baby isn't a baby anymore.
I have known that in my head for quite some time but in that moment it all came crashing down on my heart.
In less than six months, we will have a second-grader and a kindergartner in my household. My boys are growing up, and even though I want them to grow, it doesn't make it any easier on the person who walked the floors when they were sick and changed their diapers when they were babies.
As we ended the registration process, two of Jordan's past teachers came up to us to express the surprise and excitement that Jordan's little brother will be in kindergarten next year.
During our conversations, both teachers suggested that Jimmy and I have more children. Then the compliment came – the greatest compliment that can ever be given to a parent. They both said that we are both excellent parents, and that we raise wonderful children.
My mom always said that being a parent is the toughest thing we will ever do in life. She was right.
As a mom, it's so hard to know what the right things to do for my boys are. If I take the wrong path, there could be serious consequences. I try very hard to weigh each option from their health to their education and spiritual development.
I have two very specific prayers when it comes to my boys: To live long enough to see them grown, and to not make any serious mistakes that would cause any permanent damage.
While the first prayer won't be answered for years to come, the second has already come to pass. I now know, contrary to their behavior at home, my boys do know how to behave. And there is no sign of permanent damage – at least not yet.
As for the suggestion for us to have more kids, I say maybe or maybe not.
I guess it will depend on what God has planned for us and not what we have planned for ourselves.