(no subject)

[mamculuna]

It didn't occur to me when I had children that they'd be in my life lots longer as adults than they were as little kids. The kid thing, over the course of my whole life, only lasted about 10 years, and they've been People for 25 more, already. I loved those years, from baby to little boy to teenager, and was so sad to see them end, but now I'm glad that I was able to do the kid part so that they reached adulthood without too much baggage, and that now we can be friends. In many ways they are my two favorite friends, which is odd because otherwise my paths wouldn't cross with those of people like them, at all, and yet in so many ways we share so much.

I just spent a wonderful weekend with my older son. Usually his partner is with us, and I really love the partner, but it changes the dynamic, so this was a rare treat, just the two of us. We went to Savannah and Beaufort, towns that figured in my past (and his as a very little kid indeed, so that he has not much real memory of it, but could really enjoy hearing about it). And we also share a great tasted for history and architecture, so we had a wonderful tour, just the two of us and a guy from the local historical preservation organization. If you haven't been to Savannah, it's one of the prettiest cities anywhere, with 24 lovely squares filled with mossy oaks and green grass, and mostly surrounded by graceful Federal period buildings, exquisitely restored. We went on to Beaufort, to visit Penn Center where MLK wrote the I Have a Dream speech and also where I met my son's father, around that same era. We found a great gallery of outsider art and a too-delicious Gullah cafe.

So for those of you who're sometimes struggling through the kid years, remember that your reward is coming!

Comments

[mummm.livejournal.com]

I agree 100%! The adult years are super... though the childhood ones were such fun!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Indeed--and I can tell that your daughter too is a really great adult friend (and so pretty!)

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Thank you! She is a great friend. I am always dreading if they move or something.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Well, that can be hard--but my kids live across the country, so we visit back and forth and take trips together, giving us some weeks at each others' houses. But hope she won't move!

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You are right, and that is a comfort.

[usedtobeljs]

How wonderful -- to have your child as your friend, and to have that weekend.

[hugs]

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

It is! Hope your week will be good!

::hugs back::

[zoe-1418.livejournal.com]

This is very nice -- thanks for posting about it!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Thanks. You're more than a friend to your parents, of course.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. Some of my favorite outings are the ones I take with my kids. It sounds like your son is a wonderful person which isn't too surprising.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

And yours sound delightful--they're at the really great age of just becoming adults, such a great adventure.

[missprune.livejournal.com]

Awww... I know what you mean. I adore my grown up children.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

And it also reminds me of all the good times I had with my mother when I was older. We went to London and San Francisco.

[missprune.livejournal.com]

I envy that. The bond my kids and I share is so much closer and warmer than what I managed with my mother in her later years. I wish it could have been different. In a way, I didn't know parents and grown up children could be such good friends until I got to know my husband and his mother and father. It was an eye opener! So our family life has been inspired by that model of real kindness and acceptance.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

It's so good when a person like you can have a good relationship with their children in spite of having parents that didn't show them the way. I know your kids must be glad for that.