10 real reasons I’m actually happy my kids are growing up

I know that as a parent it is my inherent duty to bemoan the fact that my kids are growing up. I am obliged to look at old baby photos or hold up little tiny babygros that they no longer fit into and wail, "Why? WHY must they keep growing?!" And I DO do a lot of that (especially with those pesky Facebook memories that they throw up every day). But there is a flip-side. Jacob is four-and-a-half and Eva is two, and as of this morning, I am deee-lighted to share with you that: I had a shower by myself. My two kids happily hung out together while I had a quick wash and there was no panic. YESSSS. THERE IS A FUTURE IN SIGHT. Here are some cool things to remember that are GREAT about your kids growing up: 1. Getting themselves dressed The Art Of Dressing A Squirming Toddler When There Are Four Minutes To Get Out The Front Door is an art I will not miss. Jacob is happily dressing himself at the moment and I am happily letting him. One down. 2. Entertaining Themselves Finally, my kids are starting to really play together which is giving us parents all sorts of free time to ourselves. We had our dinner and an entire conversation yesterday while watching our kids racing each other to jump on their bean bags. They didn't interrupt us for ten whole minutes. Bliss. 3. Getting Out Of Nappies I have been the happiest mum ever since Jacob started using the toilet himself, and as of a week ago, he doesn't even need my help in there any more. No more arse-wiping for me! Just need to get his little sister potty trained next - get the floor mop at the ready.. 4. Getting Out Of Peppa Pig My daughter is launching a Peppa Protest at the moment and we are FINE with that. I am really tired of that little piggy with her foot-stomping and her treating her parents and little brother like crap. We have moved onto Dora with her lovely Spanish and number-learning. Praise be! 5. Choosing Their Own Clothes We have suffered Sock Rejection for long enough - I can no longer cope with fighting with my kids over wearing things that they're not into. Roll on the independence of choosing what they want to wear on a daily basis and owning it. Eva fully rocked a Minnie Mouse pyjama top all day yesterday and was thrilled with herself. So be it! 6. Buggy Free Time The buggy is great and handy for lots of different situations - like a quick trip to the shopping centre if you need them to be contained, or when on hols and you need them to be comfortable and shaded by the hood and parasol. But on a daily basis, the buggy is SUCH a pain to get in and out of the car and strap the little ones into. Plus, I am far happier for them to be on their feet and get the exercise they need. So.. our current one is off to SVP, yippee! 7. Feeding Themselves My kids obviously still need plenty of coercion when it comes to dinner time, in terms of getting them to sit down long enough to eat it. But they are well able to feed themselves and bring their bowls over to the kitchen sink when they're done. If only they were old enough to wash the dishes.. 8. They're Kind Of Over Us It used to be SUCH a panic to get out for a date on the rare occasions that we did. I used to have to wear my dressing gown over my going-out outfit to disguise the fact that I was planning to leave them with a babysitter and then literally try to escape out the front door unnoticed. These days, it's "Are we having a party? Is there chocolate in the fridge? See ya later". Love it. 9. Helping Out NOT that we're into child labour (!) but it's so great when the kids start helping to clean up after themselves. Jacob is starting to be really good at putting all his toys away at the end of the day (WHERE did all that Lego come from) and Eva has formed a close bond with the hoover. Staff! We have staff! Whoop! 10. Finding Out Who They Are Every other week, we are seeing more and more who our kids truly are as little people. Jacob is becoming a real dude who is crazy about construction and mechanics, with a side order of mischief thrown in. Eva is more and more affectionate all the time and has just started whispering "I love you" into our ears. We can wait to see what the next year will bring.