I Am So Wise, I Should Write A Book!

I still have moments where I turn around and expect to see a tiny little baby, but instead there is this little man with opinions and preferences of food and toys and company! He's learning new words quickly now. So far just this week he's started using more, want some, uh-oh!, and the dreaded no was heard once. I find myself getting a little bit teary eyed after he falls asleep in my arms and I see how big he really is. I think I have a theory on why it is so difficult for mothers to let go of their children once they're grown.
You carry this life inside of you until he is ready to face the world. Then you introduce him to your family and friends and teach him everything you know and grow a little with him along the way. There is an innate unconditional love that prevents you from strangling them when they throw temper tantrums for hours, or throw your tooth brush in the toilet, or "spill" a gallon of paint over the entire living room(furniture and electronics included), or get married without telling you.(love you mom, love you daddy:)
You protect him at all costs, even when people think your insane and critical. At the same time, you try not to protect him to much. What's a few bumps on the head or dirt on his cookie?
My point is that we (mothers) spend so much time leaping from one milestone to the next and spend so much energy on trying not to loose our tempers and make bad decisions that no matter how hard we try to savor every little moment, the moments pass. I didn't cry when Xander was born, but I cry sometimes now when I think about it. It only makes sense that by the time he's 18 it will have really hit me. Having a child is such a spectacular thing that if the enormity of it hit you all at once we (mothers) would probably have heart attacks at the first sight of the wrinkly,slimy little creature screaming with it's first breath in protest of being pushed out of his cozy little womb.
The vastness of what we have done washes over us in little waves and I am guessing that by the time he is grown it will really hit me that...well...he's grown. It has to be a time when a mother gets to reflect on all that has happened. It's overwhelming I'm sure and that must be why mothers have such a hard time letting go of their children.
Plus, then I'll have to be worried that he can function as an adult. That will be the real test of my mother hood. Yeah, yeah, yeah..he's leaving the nest, he doesn't need me any more, blah, blah, blah. Come on now! The real reason mothers freak out is that once your child goes off into the real world there are going to be tons of witnesses to your child rearing abilities and you have no more control over how it's presented!
That's it right? I know...I'm so wise with my, how long has it been now?, two years of mothering experience. I should write a book.
By the way, I'm 28 years old and let me say that I am still my Mommys little baby and my Daddys little girl. They don't need to pay for things, drive me places or teach me life lessons but they still do and I would be a bit lost without that.