Parenting Guru: Stop this train

I was watching him talk to his uncle with such ease, using words like "ridiculous" and "surprisingly".

He used his hands when he spoke and stood in a relaxed stance as he talked about viral videos on YouTube. He did this thing with his eyebrows when he worked to conjure up a thoughtful response. He listened intently, offering his opinion with deliberate purpose.

I was watching Boy Wonder conduct himself with a maturity and confidence I hadn't yet seen, or perhaps hadn't stopped to notice until now. It was then that I realized time was passing much, much too quickly.

Where was the little boy who so loved Thomas the Train and snuggling in my folded arms? The boy who wanted to marry me in a castle. The boy who wished for yellow hair like mine.

My once little helper and constant companion was growing up and it hurt my heart in the most beautiful way.

There I stood, teary-eyed and supremely proud, desperately wishing to stop this train.

Mommyfriend goes by Lori Garcia in real life and is a Shine Parenting Guru. She writes at www.mommyfriend.com where she's busy finding perfection in imperfection daily. When she's not folding laundry she's a Featured Lifestyle Contributor for Yahoo! Contributor Network.