Dear boy mum, you need to read this beautiful reminder of your importance

My little boy just turned four.

He is in many ways so much more toddler-ish at four than his three years older sister was at the same age. Where she was most definitively a little girl, not a toddler at four, he still remains one – maybe because I wish for his to stay just as he is for the longest time still. Why? I'm not sure, other than that for now anyway, he is my youngest, my baby, and much as seeing him grow and learn and develop is the most amazing thing, I am also terrified of him growing up and away from me, fearing, I think, that you don't really get to keep boys the same way you do girls. And while the goal is, of course, for him to one day become independent and the kind of man who will take care of himself and his family with love and confidence, I also need to know that I will still be important. Still hold the power to make everything right in his world, whether he is four or thirty-four. Which is why; I think, this post I came across on Instagram the other day just made me cry a little (ok; a lot):

"A mother is her son's home base. You are home to him. When he learns to walk, he will wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble a little farther and then come back. When he tries something new, he will look for your proud smile. When he learns to read, he will repeat the same book to you 20 times in a row, because you're the only one who will listen that many times. When he plays a sport, he will search for your face in the stands. When he is sick, he will call you. When he really messes up, he will call you. When he is grown and strong and tough and big and he feels like crying, he will come to you; because a man can cry in front of his mother without feeling self-conscious. Even when he grows up and has a new woman in his life and gets a new home you are still his mother; homebase, the ever constant, like the sun. Know that in your heart and everything else will fall into place." ? *Originally written by Tabitha of @studergirl Team Studer #homebase #amotherslove #asonslove #momsofboys #aboyandhismama #love #boymom #saturdaymorning #snuggletime #beauty #parenthood #motherhood #boys

A post shared by Three Boys And A Mom (@rachaelplus3) on Jun 24, 2017 at 5:23am PDT

I needed this reminder, I think, to heal my heart a little after having a little emotional mini-meltdown over the fact that he turned four recently. Being a mama is such a juxtaposition, isn't it, being at the same time so thrilled to see the little people they are being moulded into and at the same time grieving the little baby that is growing up so much too fast.

But this job doesn't end when they are grown up, mamas, we're not done there. Being a boy mum – any mum, really – is forever. It's being their home base, they constant, their sun, forever. And if that doesn't bring it home just how important this job is, how important we really are, I don't know what will.