have you seen my little boy?

I have lost my little boy. It happened over night when I least expected it. I guess I can say I saw some of the signs, but deep down I am sure I was really trying to ignore them. I will admit that some of them made me smile - like your new found sense of style. Like the time you made me drive to four different stores in two different states to find that red hat you saw someone wearing that you HAD to have. Every time you wear it you smile and when you tilt it to the side, it makes me smile. A young face trying to be so grown up. Then you tell me yesterday that you don't need to dress up for Halloween - you're past that. What!? You can't be past that, you are only eight! 

Please, stay and revel in your youth. It will go faster then you really want it to anyway. Then you will be doing everything you can to try and get it back. Enjoy your freedoms, for soon they will be a distant memory. Long gone will be your days of skateboarding and bike riding. There won't be time for Army attacks, Storm Trooper wars and sleepovers.  Your chubby cheeks are thinning - giving way to a more pronounced jaw line, the one your father has. I know it will be all too soon that those once chubby cheek will prickle me with stubble and that makes me sad. If only I could freeze time..... but then I know I would miss out on all the joys that come with watching you continue to grow old and mature. And just when I least expect it you surprise me with a glimpse of the little boy of the past. You crawl up on my lap to snuggle. You whisper, "Your the best", and my little boy is back once again - at least for a moment - and in that moment I will stay.