See this kid? The one with the long, silky blond hair and full cheeks?

He’s 16 now.

The hair is dark and cropped short. The cheeks are angular, with stubble much of the time, as he mostly ignores my reminders to shave.

The smiling blue eyes are the same, though the smiles aren’t gifted to me quite as often as they were back then.

I used to piggyback this boy up the stairs to bed. He towers over me now.

After years of listening to his high-pitched squeals during lightsaber duels, it often startles me when I hear the deep, booming voice that comes out of his mouth these days.

He is my one son, sandwiched between two girls. I’ve learned some things, raising this boy.

Boys can be LOUD. Boys can be messy. Boys can be smelly.

And…

Boys can be sensitive. Boys can be thoughtful. Boys are protective, especially of their moms.

The most unexpected thing I’ve learned? Boys are so, so sweet.

I’m not gonna lie. 16 is tough. Tough to be, and tough to parent, especially in this day and age.

When my kids became teenagers, I had to tell them things like, “Please don’t vape, eat Tide-Pods, do any dangerous TikTok challenges, or cyber-bully anyone.”

When I was a teenager in the 80’s, my mom told me things like, “Please don’t bring your Cabbage Patch doll to the dinner table.”  True story.

You know, when your kids are little, all you want is for them to leave you alone for five minutes. Then come the teenage years and suddenly, they leave you alone for far too long.

The eyes are rolled, the doors are slammed, the walls are up.

And through those walls, sometimes it’s hard to see that sweet little boy.

The one who snuggled me the most.

The one who held my hand the longest.

But then.

Glimpses.

I come downstairs one morning and on the kitchen counter is a piece of coffee cake. The very last piece. With a sticky note on top, that says, “Save for Mom”.

He knows it’s my favorite.

There’s that sweet boy.

Another time, I overhear my 9-year-old daughter being rude to him.

I interject: “Stop being mean to your brother!”

“It’s ok,” he says. Then, turning to his sister:  “Even when you’re mean to me, you’re still my favorite person.”

Another glimpse.

And so, through the throes of teenage angst, I hold onto those glimpses. Of the sweet little boy he was, and of the good man he is becoming.

Not long ago, he randomly announced to my husband and I something I won’t soon forget. He said, “Do you realize that one day you’ll pick up your kid and it will be the last time that you do? But you won’t know it then.”

I’m glad I wasn’t aware of the last time I picked him up.

Because it would have broken me a little to put him down.

This boy of mine may not hold my hand any longer, but no matter how big he gets, he will always, always, hold my heart.

*Update: I first wrote this about three years ago. That little boy is now 19 and I am so proud of the young man he has become. He is warm, and funny, and will talk to us (his PARENTS!) for hours. So hang in there moms…it really does get better. Now my youngest just turned 13 so here we go again!! 🙂

If you enjoyed this post, you might like: “The Girl Who Wore Three Pairs of Socks” https://imightbefunny.com/parenting/parenting-strong-willed-daughter-advice/