Last night, my family returned home from the beach. For the first time, I finished an entire book on vacation. I didn’t pack swim diapers or pull-ups. We even left the baby stroller at home. Instead of taking my 4 year-old for a ride on my early morning runs, my daughter joined me, excited to be my “workout buddy” while the younger two played at the condo until everyone else woke up.
As I watched my kids play in the surf, I was hit with the realization that my oldest will be nine next month. Now 4, 6, and 8, my kids are growing up fast. They don’t need me nearly as much as they used to.