Coming Home ~ A follow up to Letting Go

Well... after his first night away from Mommy, Dylan has returned home--quite reluctantly I might add. He told "Nathan's mommy" that he wanted to stay more. (On a prior occassion she told him that he could call her April. He pondered a moment and then replied, "No thanks, I'll just call you Nathan's mommy.") Obviously touched she explained that he could come again soon, and that he and Nathan would get to play again very soon.

As soon as he came home he ran to give me a big hug; I love how big hugs from Dylan feel, but that feeling was cut short when he went on to explain, "Mommy, I told you I wanted to stay forever and ever." Obviously, my little man had an awesome time at his first ever sleepover.

About 2 hours after he came home, tornado warnings were issued for our city. When the tornado sirens sounded I told the kids "Tornado, bathroom!" They live in SW Arkansas, so they know the drill. We weren't in the bathroom for five minutes before Dylan fell asleep on the floor. Once the storm passed and the tornado warning expired, I picked up my little man and let him crawl into my bed. He's been there for two hours as I write this. Obviously... he had a great time at his first sleep over.

Letting Go for Growing Up

So... I've always been that overprotective mom that wasn't willing to share her children with just anyone. Dylan has never spent the night away from me... just the thought was always too much to handle. Then comes dear, sweet Nathan. Dylan's partner in crime. Well, frankly, they are both such good kids they can't be partners in crime... partners in... well, (for brain's sake, I'm hearing sponge bob in the background so my train of thought is being interrupted) partners in gum chewing and mud slingin'.

Well, for a couple of weeks Nathan's mom has been inviting Dylan over for a sleepover. I toyed the idea and ran it past Dylan. He inquired as to the "point" of a sleepover and what exactly was to be done at "said event". After further, detailed explanation--two weeks to be precise, Nathan's mom invited him again. This time, his answer was a very decisive yes.

For one solid week all I heard was, "When am I going to Nathan's house?" Not once a day, not twice a day, but everytime Dylan had the pleasure of seeing my face. Today (the very day of the sleepover) was much worse. All day he ran back and forth, when is Nathan's mommy going to get here? When am I going? The worst part was when he explained that he wanted to stay at Nathan's house "forever and ever and ever". It broke my heart, but at that very same moment I felt damn proud. My little boy, the same little boy that had to be delivered 2 1/2 months early, that same little boy that doctors said would be sickly and "slower" than most boys his age, the same little boy that wouldn't let anyone else but Mommy or Daddy hold him, has grown into my handsome young man. And to top all that... he's taller than most boys his age, he's average weight for his height, and he's not slow... he can do everything that is expected of four year olds and then some.


That is Dylan on the left eating dinner at his bestfriend Nathan's house. That is Nathan on the right. Photos courtesy of April - Nathan's Mommy.

Below: Dylan playing with train set at Nathan's house.



Oh yeah, when I was getting ready to leave he told me, "Happy Mother's Day... and it's a surprise mommy, you are getting a walking Mommy dinosaur." Such a sweet guy! And just 4! I love him so dang much!!!

I'm a proud mama tonight. My little boy is growing up. It breaks my heart to be letting go... to have to let go, but to know that I can let go and he will do well and succeed makes me feel like screaming out with joy. This job might be hard... being a mommy might be hard... but right now I dwell in the joy that I have done him well, he is doing me well!

Dylan, tonight your mommy is so proud of you!

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