There is a friendly competition emerging between Bug (my daughter) and her friends. It is actually really funny to watch this group of girls do this. Almost every week, they measure who is taller (b/c there has been such a change in a week). They stand back to back and then one of them tries to determine who is the tallest. I say try because there is always a measuring mishap. Someone almost always measures at a slant resulting in a few inches being added to someone measurements. When the girls do this, I just smile! Each one wants to be the tallest so bad! I guess in their child minds, the tallest equals the oldest or biggest.

Recently, I noticed Bug and her friends moved onto another way of measuring. I guess they have figured out that the tallest doesn’t necessarily mean the oldest (especially in Bug’s case, she is tall). They have now started comparing birthdays and ages. Bug wants to be 5 so bad like some of her friends!!! She wants to skip 4 and just move on to 5 (she actually told me that)! I don’t understand her desire to be 5, but I feel like I have this conversation with Bug every week (I actually had it this morning).

Bug: I am 4 right mommy?
Mommy: Yes, Bug you are 4.
Bug: When will I be 5?
Mommy: Not for awhile, you just had a birthday.
Bug: Well M is 5, but C is still 4, and M is 3.
Mommy: Yes, Bug that is right.
Bug: Well….C is about to be 5 and then I will be 5 right.
Mommy: No, Bug you just had a birthday. You won’t be 5 for almost a year.
Bug: But, I really want to be 5.
Mommy: I know you do, but you aren’t.
Bug: Why am I not 5 yet?
Mommy: You just aren’t. Can you be happy with being 4 and just enjoy it.
Bug: I guess, but M is still 3. I am older than her. And, then I will be 5!

Oh my goodness!!!! It is all about who is the oldest or making sure you are still older than someone else. I have tried to explain to Bug that she needs to be content with the age she is and enjoy it. I don’t want her to wish her life away or wish to be older, because she will be grown before she knows it. I know she can’t understand this fully, but I will keep trying and reminding her to not wish to grow up too soon!

I know I was guilty of wishing my life away growing up! When I was 11 I wanted to be 13, when I was 14 I wanted to be 16, and when I was 16 I wanted to be 18. Being a year older or even 2 years older seemed to have more appeal. I guess it was because I could do more things or have more freedom. Honestly, I don’t know. It has taken my experiences as an adult to realize that time truly does fly and it doesn’t help to wish away time.

I realized this time flying principle earlier this week. I received an invitation to my 10 year high school reunion (oh…say it isn’t so!!!). I can’t believe I have been out of high school 10 years! I look back on the last 10 years and ask, “Where did the time go?!?!" It seems like only yesterday, I was running around with my friends, going to prom, and walking the line at graduation. Now, I am going to a reunion… Oh, I feel old!

Is it possible to freeze time?!?! Can’t Bug just stay 4 and I not get any closer to 30? What is funny is, when you are younger you can’t wait to be older, but when you are older you just want to be younger. Got to love the perspective change, because the way I see it, the more years between me and the age of 30 the better.

Since I can’t rewind time or make it freeze, I am going to practice what I preach. I am going to enjoy and be content. I just hope Bug see this and tries to be content and enjoy being 4!

Anyone else have kids that want to be older than they are? Why do they want to be older?

Can’t wait to hear from you!