As the week begins, I cannot deny what is foremost on my mind: my little boy is growing up. He would, by the way, correct me and say “no, I’m not a little boy, I’m a big boy”. And so he is. As we approach his pre-school graduation, it is hitting me like a brick wall. He’s five. Five and heading to kindergarten! Wow.
So, yes, I am having some growing pains…it’s me, not him. He is happily getting taller, smarter, more independent, all the wonderful things that being five brings. It makes me wonder, will every year be like this? Surely, every year in a child’s life brings some major milestones and with it the realization that the growing pains (for us moms) never end.
But I’m especially anxious and sentimental this week. For one, kindergarten is fast approaching, which means he really is leaving our little bubble here. Out into the big world. That’s what it feels like and it’s scary to me. He, however, can’t wait to go to the “big boy” school. It feels like our “last summer” before school begins…I don’t know why I’m being so dramatic.
So, as I prepare for this so called “last summer” with our little guy, I think about some of those Five Year Old Milestones and celebrate all adorable (mixed with a little crazy) five year olds out there!
- Losing their first tooth: He’s got a couple wiggly ones up front, and he is so excited..go figure. Can’t wait to see that funny looking grin.
- Learning to ride that bike without training wheels (some, not all)…get ready to hold your breath a lot, and try not to gasp EVERY time he goes crashing. Not really ready for this one.
- Learning to swim: it’s been slow going for us but certainly a life long skill that I feel is essential. He’s our cautious little fish, but we’ll get there.
- Learning about stranger safety: We’ve been doing this a lot lately. We go through practice scenarios and give him words to use in specific situations. I don’t want to scare him but this is an essential piece of safety information that he just must learn.
- Oh and my favorite (insert sarcasm): He is becoming quite the expert at teasing his little sister, scary monster face and all!
- On the flip side: He can make her laugh like no one else
Well that’s just to name a few. Enjoy your summer all you five year olds…and remember to eat your veggies…you’ll grow bigger, stronger, and smarter!
So tell me, what growing pains are you going through right now? If you have a five year old…what adorable, crazy, or amazing things are they doing right now? Thanks for sharing!
I'll start it off by telling you why my five year old is 1. Adorable: gives me 20 hugs and kisses at bedtime, which I'm sure is a stall tactic but I love it anyway. 2. Crazy: jumps on our couch like its a trampoline and has to be reminded at least 20 times a day that its not. 3. Amazing: he's our sensitive, kind soul and I hope I can continue to nurture that.
I feel your pain. My little one will be 5 next month, heading to kindergarten in September. She is so ready….I am not. I guess it would be a lot worse if they were not ready in addition to us.
I feel your pain. My little one will be 5 next month, heading to kindergarten in September. She is so ready….I am not. I guess it would be a lot worse if they were not ready in addition to us.
I relate with you about growing pains! My son just graduated from preschool last week, and I couldn't hold back my tears. He'll be in kindergarten in September.
I relate with you about growing pains! My son just graduated from preschool last week, and I couldn't hold back my tears. He'll be in kindergarten in September.
Wow, what a timely post! Cam graduated from preschool yesterday, and we attended his cap and gown ceremony. His teacher gave a speech and ended up getting emotional, so when she did, I did too. Since it's our last summer vacation before school, we're doing it up big–leaving for Hawaii in a few weeks. It's so bittersweet. I don't want him to grow up, but he's doing it anyway, with pleasure…
Wow, what a timely post! Cam graduated from preschool yesterday, and we attended his cap and gown ceremony. His teacher gave a speech and ended up getting emotional, so when she did, I did too. Since it's our last summer vacation before school, we're doing it up big–leaving for Hawaii in a few weeks. It's so bittersweet. I don't want him to grow up, but he's doing it anyway, with pleasure…
Congratulations to all your 5 year olds Dalia, Jinnia, and Sandy! It is bittersweet isn't it? Thanks so much for sharing. Enjoy your summer with them and some fun vacation time
I get so mixed between marveling at how much my daughter has grown and changed and getting so upset at how she's not little anymore. She'll be one in two weeks.
Stopping by from SITS
I get so mixed between marveling at how much my daughter has grown and changed and getting so upset at how she's not little anymore. She'll be one in two weeks.
Stopping by from SITS
Thanks for stopping by…I know, it's amazing how fast they grow. Enjoy your soon to be one year old
You are definitely not alone… I still cry for a week before each of my kid's birthdays. And every year on their birthday, I beg them to stop growing.
My son is so giving, that last year, he suggested I cut him in half and glue him back together so he can stay small. Gotta love the imagination! At 5, my daughter was all about glitter and fairies. Now, my son is 5, and he's all about girls. Heaven help me… he's definitely his father's son! 
I know, all this change…comes so fast. I can't believe your little guy is all about the girls…kinda cute but I'm not ready for that! Thanks so much for sharing Roni, I always appreciate your comments
We just took the training wheels off on Monday. She now has a fast mode of transportation to speedily carry her off on her own adventures. Ugh!
I was dreading kindergarten but day by day I'm getting more comfortable with it. She is so ready. I won't be that lonely, will I?
Okay, I will. But it has to happen someday. To delay would only be to put off the inevitable.
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I have a 15 year old and 7.5 year oldb/g twins. I love each milestone! I am not a sentimental sort in the “my baby is growing up” kind of way. I celebrate the milestones and thank G-d for them. My twins were two pounds each when they were born, and they are perfectly healthy and drive me nuts!
I guess I am also that way because of the age gap with my kids. While my older mommy friends are lamenting the fact that their kids will be in college in five years their nest will be empty, that is not the case for me! I have many more years of milestones ahead of me!
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I have a 15 year old and 7.5 year oldb/g twins. I love each milestone! I am not a sentimental sort in the “my baby is growing up” kind of way. I celebrate the milestones and thank G-d for them. My twins were two pounds each when they were born, and they are perfectly healthy and drive me nuts!
I guess I am also that way because of the age gap with my kids. While my older mommy friends are lamenting the fact that their kids will be in college in five years their nest will be empty, that is not the case for me! I have many more years of milestones ahead of me!
Thank you so much Joey and mommymommymommy for sharing your stories. I was so glad to find you both too and enjoy each of your blogs
Thanks for the great and honest comments. Yes, we should celebrate these milestones shouldn't we? Many more to come 
When you HAVE to Lie
My kids are older but my favorite story is when all three of my kids, then 8,6,4 were in Walmart and my youngest, Andrew, decided to take off and find the GI joes- I went right after him but it was as though he disappeared into thin air. I immediately got hysterical and went to the manager telling them to lock down the store. A few minutes later, an elderly lady comes walking back into the store holding my son's hand. He had gotten lost and ran outside to the parking lot looking for us.
From then on I told him the Grocery Store Police had his name on a list and he had to stay in the shopping cart until he was 6 whenever in a big store. Wouldn't you know, the day that kid turned 6 he asked if he didn't have to be inside the grocery carts anymore.
He is 17 and has NOT forgotten that ever. But that was the only way I could go shopping without worrying about that little rascal!
By the way, each age is wonderful and horrific in the same breath, however, this is definitely the best job I've ever had!
When you HAVE to Lie
My kids are older but my favorite story is when all three of my kids, then 8,6,4 were in Walmart and my youngest, Andrew, decided to take off and find the GI joes- I went right after him but it was as though he disappeared into thin air. I immediately got hysterical and went to the manager telling them to lock down the store. A few minutes later, an elderly lady comes walking back into the store holding my son's hand. He had gotten lost and ran outside to the parking lot looking for us.
From then on I told him the Grocery Store Police had his name on a list and he had to stay in the shopping cart until he was 6 whenever in a big store. Wouldn't you know, the day that kid turned 6 he asked if he didn't have to be inside the grocery carts anymore.
He is 17 and has NOT forgotten that ever. But that was the only way I could go shopping without worrying about that little rascal!
By the way, each age is wonderful and horrific in the same breath, however, this is definitely the best job I've ever had!
That's some creative parenting right there, and it worked! I love it. Hmmm…you just gave me an idea 😉 Thanks so much for sharing your story.
I remember those summers very! Now my boys are 19, 17 and 13. I miss some of our fun activities we did then. Now, they're all off on their own most of the time. Luckily, they love the art museum and the natural history museum still! We'll all connect on our vacation next week, too.
By the way, I teach preschool. I think 5 is just the perfect age! They are really themselves at 5 before our culture and peers begin to get to them at 6!
I remember those summers very! Now my boys are 19, 17 and 13. I miss some of our fun activities we did then. Now, they're all off on their own most of the time. Luckily, they love the art museum and the natural history museum still! We'll all connect on our vacation next week, too.
By the way, I teach preschool. I think 5 is just the perfect age! They are really themselves at 5 before our culture and peers begin to get to them at 6!
We had Thing1's Pre-School graduation this weekend. Surprisingly, I didn't get a bit weepy. I was balling at the end of her first PS yr (this was our 3rd yr) so I expected this to hit much harder.
Thing1 can make Thing2 laugh harder than anyone else! Heartwarming!
Thank you Zen Mama and DC for sharing your growing pains. Zen Mama, I can see how at 5 they are still (for the most part) free from outside influences…I'm not ready for all that.
DC: Thanks for sharing…btw, so funny how you call your kids thing1 and thing2