He arrived at the side of my bed at about 6:15 this morning.
“Mum” he said in a ‘whisper’ so loud the cows out in the paddock must have heard him.
“Muuuum!”
“What?” I mumbled somewhat annoyed at having to make conversation before sunrise.
“Mum… am I five yet?”
“No buddy”
“but… but I…”
I opened my eyes just enough to see his bottom lip quivering and his eyes filling with tears.
Suddenly I realised what was going on.
“Oh buddy…” he crawled under the covers next to me sobbing.
“I know you’re sad, but you’ll be five next Friday. Not this week, but next week. You just have seven more sleeps to go. You’re almost five!”
I’m not sure why turning five has taken on such immense importance.
He already knows that he will not go to school the day her turns five. We learned the hard way, with our other June baby, that we needed to prepare him for the fact that he would be five for a full 6 months before he’d actually start school. So that’s not it.
But turning five is still a really a big deal for my smallest child.
“When I’m five I will be able to beat Dad at chess.”
“When I’m five all my words will come out right.”
“When I’m five I will be able to climb that tree like Izzy and Zoe can.”
“When I’m five I’ll stay in my own bed all night.”
“When I’m five I will cook my own dinner, and only ones that I like!”
I guess being the youngest of four gives you a lot of reasons to think being ‘big’ is good.
But as the mother of an ‘almost five year old’ I think there are a lot of good reasons for him to stay small, for just a little bit longer.
For just a few more days.
For just seven more sleeps.
Just to give this heart of mine just a little longer to adjust to the fact that
my baby is growing up.
How old is your ‘baby’?
Such an adorable post and that cover photo is absolutely priceless. What a gorgeous boy. Count down is ON!
Haha, LOVE this!!! I teach preschool and the only thing more important than turning five (“a whole hand”) is inviting and un-inviting people to your party. “You cannot come to my birthday party!” is the ultimate insult!!!
I love your blog for many reasons, including that we have boys about the same age. My baby turned 5 a few days ago and was similarly excited about this milestone.
How did our babies get so big so fast???
My oldest is about to turn 5 too – she’s one of the youngest in her year at school and has watched almost all of her classmates turn 5. To say she is excited is an understatement!
oh it can be SO HARD to wait a whole year for your birthday can’t it!
Yet another lovely post Kate! I’m always looking forward to reading you.
My daughter turns 6 in August and she also has a whole list of things she will do when she is 6.
As for me… well I’m asking her to stay 5 forever… she says “No!”
I keep telling my kids to stop growing because I really don’t want to have buy them yet another pair of pants or shoes… but they always refuse! LOL
5?!! How did that happen?!! I miss our tiny babies xx
I know!!!!!
Advance birthday wishes to the “big” boy who is turing 5 in few days. :-)
My youngest is 5 and his first big boys tooth has jus starting popping up behind his baby teeth. I think that was the moment that I felt that he is not longer a really little kid anymore. So sad in a way yet exciting all at the same time. I love his little legs and fingers and those sweet kisses – I wonder when that will all stop?