My Kids Don’t Need Me Anymore

::insert screaming crying emoji::

7 years ago, I gave birth to my daughter, and from that day on I was needed like I was never needed before. I gave my all. I gave my time, my body, my social life, my mental health, my sleep, my peace, all of it. And now, she doesn’t need me as much. And my 4.5 year old is on the same track. There was a time when I yearned for them to not need me. To do things on their own. To play by themselves, which they did at times. But now they can, and choose to, play by themselves, rarely needing me. I thought this was supposed to happen when they were teenagers, not needing me. I didn’t expect it to start happening now.

From birth, through newborn and toddler, it was my jam. Then a pandemic happened and I got to stretch that a little further. Now, here we are. One in 2nd grade, one in half day preschool, and me, at home, with my thoughts.

Do I go back to work? Do I read a book? Should my house be cleaner? Should I volunteer more?

But as I realize they might not need me as much, they still want me. And that makes me really happy. My daughter loves when we read together or work on our embroidery. My son loves when we play monster trucks and when we throw the frisbee for our dog. The love spending time with me. Which is something I am really grateful for.