Thread by @HoarseWisperer

As my son gets older, the changes come naturally to him. He’s just a kid growing up in the way that kids do.

I’m the one who has to adapt and bend to what he needs from me and what works for wherever he is.

This kid-to-preteen jump has been sudden though... and hard for me.

1/

To be honest, I was a little slow off the blocks and wasn’t keeping pace.

He grew up about three levels overnight and I was still two behind.

But then I had a little talk with myself about how I play this role: I adapt to what he needs from me and our relationship.

2/

I adjusted how I parent.

I gave him room - and fully blessed his wanting it.

I showed that I’m truly happy about the sudden added importance of his social life and the new closeness of friendships of a kid growing up.

3/

And I stepped back and embraced the fact that my time on his calendar is more hour blocks than afternoons.

I settled in to leaving the door cracked open to hear him laughing with his friends on FaceTime.

I embraced my best role being a supporting rather than starring one.

4/

Those moments though, the ones where the stars align and it’s just the two of us, both present, fully in the moment, no place we’d rather be...

Man, those are golden.

I soak them up like the sun on your face on the first day of vacation.

5/

We had one of those blocks tonight.

I let him stay up too late. We didn’t eat the healthiest.

But, man, that was the kind of precious you have to savor when it comes.

6/

He grows up. I adapt. It changes.

How much I love it though, that never budges.

If I were given a chance to relive only one phase of my life, it would be this one. Being this kid’s dad.

I’ve never loved anything more.

7/7