My oldest son turned 21 last Spring and came home for a quick weekend at Easter. When you have spent his entire life as a stay-home-mom, there is always a bit of denial that YES he is growing up and he may actually leave and not live with you when he is 30. This is a GOOD thing! You raise your kids to be strong independent people, capable of going out into the world and earning a living, maintaining their values, and hopefully raising a family of their own. Then…like a Colorado summer afternoon thunderstorm, it hits you! The time is now. I had that moment during his trip home. You see, when you know he is "staying at school and working" for the summer, you try to cram in as many appointments as possible in their 1.5 days at home. Like any good mom, I made a dentist appointment. This is important because their teeth CANNOT fall out until they have their first real job with insurance. Stay diligent moms!!
I think I took him to sign paperwork and thought "what the heck" I might as well stick around in the waiting room reading "Family Circle" and "Parents" magazine for 45 minutes. As I sat partially engrained in an article about organic baby food, I looked up to see the waiting room decked out with video games and toys. Ahh…the days when my boys would walk into the dentist and rush over to the "toy area". I sulked my way through until I was "called back" for the post-appointment time with the doctor. As I rounded the corner, I saw my son (about 6'3") lounging back in the chair, his feet dangling off the end. He had headphones on and was watching a Disney movie. There were little kids in all of the other chairs with their concerned parents holding their hands as the nurse taught them how to brush. OMgoodness! I don't even remember what the doctor said beyond something about a small cavity. I realized at that very moment…I have a 21 year old sitting in a pediatric dentist! We said our goodbyes, paid the bill, and walked out together. As we did, I said to T. "Guess it's time to switch to an adult dentist (I may have used the word "real")". Off we went to the next appointment, but not without a little nudge in my heart. He's going…..
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