This touching post by Clare made me reflect on how much I enjoy being a mother.
I was blessed to have seven years at home with Big Boy and Small Man when they were little, and it was without doubt the best time of my life. Our days were filled with adventures – exploring, crafting, learning.
From the time Small Man was born, he and Big Boy have been close. There are a few years between them, and Small Man was very sick as a baby with stage 4 cancer, but that hasn’t stopped the two of them forging an incredibly tight bond. Big Boy is patient and protective; loving but tough – and Small Man looks up to his brother above everyone else.
I know this is hard to believe, but our sons have never had a fight. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of times they’ve conversed in raised voices.
The photo above was taken on Small Man’s 7th birthday – he was unwell and feverish on the day of his party (as you can see by the flushed cheeks), and the only person who could make him smile on the day was his big brother.
Not surprisingly, both our sons are very like their father; Big Boy particularly so. And having spent nearly thirty years with the greatest man I’ve ever known, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that his sons would love and admire him so much. He has provided both boys with an amazing role model – one that they’ve sought to emulate as closely as possible.
Once, when Big Boy was only a toddler, he and I enjoyed the most glorious day – snuggled up and sleeping in late, followed by a day out playing in the park, shopping and drinking babychinos at a cafe by the water. Pete had left for work before either of us had crawled out of bed, and didn’t come home until nearly 7pm. That night, he said to me, “Babe, I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you do for our family. You keep our little man so happy. We couldn’t manage without you.”
I’d spent the most fabulous day playing with our son, while my husband had been at work for nearly 12 hours, and instead of resenting the inequality of it all, he was thanking me for being a stay-at-home mum. Is it any wonder that a man of such grace and generosity is so deeply loved by his family?
Our sons are both big now – Big Boy is an adult and currently at university, and Small Man is in the latter part of high school. They both tower over Pete and I, and have their own range of diverse interests and friends. Yet our oldest son will still make me a cup of tea and sit for a while to chat about life and the universe, and Small Man will happily try to help me with crossword clues that require a more scientific mind than mine.
To all my friends with young children – cherish these special years.
They’re a gift from God.
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
What a beautiful post Celia, those dimply smiles are just like yours! Bless you all xxx
Thanks darling. The dimples are just about the only way they look like me! :)
aaaaaaaaaw that is so sweet – I hope they all read your blog! I have a daughter and son who are 2 years apart and they have certainly had some rows over the years but now they they are older those childhood tiffs have been replaced by a genuine interest in each others lives and I am so glad to know that they will look out for each other as adults.
Shangri La, thank you, the boys don’t read my blog normally, but Big Boy did read this post.. :)
That’s a really lovely post, I read it with little tears in my eyes :) I have two boys too – although much closer in age and only very young still, four and five. Fabulous little men they are too.
You must be very proud of yours.
Ali.
Ali, thank you, I’m exceedingly proud of them. Not because they’ve “achieved” anything amazing, but because they’re both such kind, fun, loving souls. Four and five – what a fabulous time! Glad you’re having fun with them! :)
What a beautiful post Celia. How very special that you have such an incredible family. If I had children I would strive to have them be as special as your boys.
:-) Mandy
Thanks Mandy, they are very special, as is Pete. Maybe, as you’ve once commented before, all Petes are amazing. :)
What a lovely post, Celia. Often we are too tired or busy to really appreciate our children when they are young, but it’s such a short time, and things change so quickly.
Suelle, it really is brief isn’t it? But such an interesting (and exhausting!) time. I always enjoy reading about your kids on your blog! :)
Oh Celia. For those of us with little kids this was a precious reminder of all the joys we are privilege to, and a reminder that time dulls the frustrations. Thank you. Thank you.
Darling friend, you’re right of course. Memory takes off the sharp corners, and you just end up remembering the really amazing bits. Seeing your small man wield a shovel yesterday was a hoot! :)
I love this post. That photo really brings back memories.
I love you. It’s hard now that my girls are growing up too – I miss them terribly… (ok, I miss you too, but I miss them more!) ;-) xxx
Aiyoh!! Anyway, I don’t think I can blame you. Watching my two girls, I realise I wasn’t all that good a little sister to you. Sorry…. I will strive to improve! xx
Nah. You were the best. :)
All warm & fuzzy inside – thank you :-)
Thanks for your inspirational post, Clare. I’ve had a lovely reminisce! :)
You warmed my heart today..I feel as if I know you…a caring, loving woman.
Norma, such a kind thing to say, thank you! :)
I just love this post, Celia. Your boys are beautiful. I hope that when my two are older, they’ll still sit and enjoy a cup of tea and a visit in the kitchen…And you’re absolutely right: while filled with some challenges (we’re working on potty training right now), these early years are just a joy and already passing too quickly.
Abby, thank you – oooh, potty training, now that was a fun time. Luckily we have polished wooden floors rather than carpets. I loved reading about you making pie with your wee girl, thank you! :)
A lovely post, Celia. those days of childhood seem to just flash past and suddenly we are living with adults. Those happy, long days with small children don’t last long.
In the blink of an eye, they’re pinching your vodka, A! hehehe…
You right, and it’s interesting – they did feel like happy, long days, and yet they were gone so quickly!
I love this post, too.
You have a beautiful family, Celia. My boys are seven years apart and have always been the best of friends as well.
And I have loved every moment of being their mother
I am the youngest of a large family, so I saw all my siblings have children and got to participate within the childhood of all my nieces and nephews. I saw firsthand how quickly it goes, so I was prepared to enjoy my children on each step of their
growth.
It is totally a privilege to parent. I was also a stay at home mom and count it as a blessing. I wish more parents could afford to spend that amount of time with their children, but with the financial world the way it is now- stay at home parenting is a luxury, I think.
Beautiful post. Thank you.
Heidi, I’m amazed at how close your sons are given they’re so many years apart!
I once read a great quote by Jacqueline Kennedy. Someone commented to her that her children, Caroline and John, were very close. She replied (I’m paraphrasing from memory), “It’s my greatest achievement”.
Thanks for always sharing your family with us! :)
What a lovely story Celia.
It’s indeed a blessing to be able to spend so much time with our kiddies. BigJ and I decided that I would be a stay at home mum as much as possible very early on, even when he was still an apprentice I never worked more than a few hours, With littlej I never worked at all. I appreciate the sacrifice my husband made for us so much.
With my girls there is 10yrs between them, and I never thought bickering would be an issue…. I was sooo wrong! But they love each other very much to make up for it.
I’m glad your 2 are so close, and this will stand them in good stead as they grow older together. I hope they will always be each others best friends.
Becca, after Big Boy read this, he came in and told me I was a mushbag. ;-)
Then, just to prove a point, he told me he loved me, and that I never had to worry, because he’d always look after his brother. And made me cry. :)
Thank you Celia for sharing and encouraging us to treasure these moments, as time goes by so quickly. Thank you.
Oz, your kids are at such a wonderful age, it’s always so nice to read about how much fun you have with them! :)
I enjoyed reading this and couldn’t agree with you more, we should all enjoy our children’s early years, they grow up SO quickly. Thankfully they then give us grandchildren to enjoy, if we’re lucky!
Thanks Jeannette, although I’m not sure I’m quite ready for grandchildren yet! ;-)
My small boy will be 38 in a couple of weeks. He really was the sweetest little boy. I can’t believe he is now nearly 2 metres tall and almost 40. Yes, make the most of those lovely early years.
Deb, I hope I’m as close to my boys when they’re older as you are to yours!
My son has grown to be a lovely man, I am very lucky. Your boys look gorgeous. Having a small child and having a grown man are entirely different, but both are great.
Thank you Celia for reminding us about the important stuff. x
Thanks Sue. Hope you’re ok, all the best during this difficult time… x
Beautiful, Celia. Thankyou so much for sharing your memories. I can’t imagine when ours are adults going off into the world on their own, but it will surely be here before we know it, of that I am certain!
Hugs xx
Chris, thank you! Your girls are going to be completely empowered and ready for adulthood – they can already do more now than I could at 30! :)
A lovely post, and thank you for sharing this tender and sweet side of you, and sharing about your family.
We seem to get so involved in our ‘blogs’ and cyber image, we can easily loose track of who and how special our cyber friends are. Some share little personal details..some give away nothing! It’s a personal thing, but I’ve learnt one thing, we all have respect for each others creative hands and minds, I thank you for letting me get to know you a little more.and value your friendahip within my blogging community..have a wonderful weekend. x
Yvette, thank you for such a lovely comment. I wouldn’t normally post about the boys, but sometimes I’m overwhelmed by how fortunate I am, and the words just won’t stay in. :)
Hope you have a wonderful weekend too! x
Hi Celia on this cool Sunday morn!!! What a beautiful post..time sure does fly with children…one minute they are small and then it seems like they head off on their own to explore the world and we wonder…where did all that time go…
On the arm front…I’m still healing, they reckon it will be up to 12 months to get full function of my arm back…if I get it all back!!! Meanwhile doing some physio (ouch)…Have a great Sunday…Regards, Dzintra
Dzintra, I’m sorry it’s been such a long healing process..hope you’re not in too much pain anymore! Do take care…and have a great Sunday too!
oh Celia, you made me cry. This post is so sweet and touching. It’s amazing how positive your outlook to life is considering what you and your family have been through. God bless you all.
Sandy, thank you, He really does bless us! Hope you’ve had a lovely weekend, and that you’re enjoying some glorious Spring weather! :)
Ooh, Celia, lump in the throat territory. What a lovely mush-bag you are. Yesterday my eldest daughter sent me a phone photo of her youngest child, Mia, 20 months old, who had dressed herself for an outing in purple striped socks, hot pink tights, frilly pink skirt and a floral top, one size too small – independence comes so quickly, there’s not much we can do except stand back, smile and quietly cross our fingers.
LOL, Jan, shades of Cyndi Lauper! I reckon girls know what they want to wear from the moment they’re born! :)
Hello Celia and thank you so much for this post. It is easy to forget, isn’t it, how lucky we are when our children are happy and healthy. I too echo your sentiments about how fast their childhood slips away, it seems only yesterday that they were both in the back of the car screaming their heads off and I was driving home thinking ‘This will never end!’ And of course it did, all too fast!!.
It is funny, too, that I had assumed yours were still young, probably because of their names, so I was astounded to read how old they are!! My boys too, only 18 months apart, are in their early 20’s now, but sadly not very close. I think the age difference actually made for a lot of rivalry, or an attempt at difference, anyway! I am ever hopeful that they will become close as they age: I myself have only been close to my sisters since my 30’s, and it is a wonderful gift to be close to one’s siblings.
Thanks again for posting such heartfelt gratitude, it does us all good to be reminded of what we have to be grateful for. Deb
Thanks Deb! It’s funny isn’t it – all the crying in the car, especially when they were overtired small people – I can look back on that now and not even mind it. It’s amazing how time can smooth out the pointy bits! :)
What a beautiful post Celia. What a wonderful family you have
Thanks Claire! I’m very, very fortunate!
Hi Celia!
Lovely post. Time certainly does go by quickly! I was just thinking that as I observed my children the other day. I am also a stay-home mom (which is actually a full time job, on call 24/7)!
One thing I have found very true: More is caught than taught.
Your boys sound like very fine young men.
Manuela, thank you! You seem to enjoy your kids so much, it’s always such a treat to read what you’ve been up to with them! :)
Well that certainly made me a little teary Celia…with everything going on in our lives lately its nice to be reminded of the blessing of family. We are so lucky that considering there are five of us (plus an extra sister :) ) we remain close and the trials and tribulations of our lives in the last year have only made us closer.
I can vouch for your wonderful husband because he’s my wonderful big brother :)
Lots of love to you, Pen, I’m blessed to have you all in my life. That nephew of mine is getting bigger all the time, can’t wait to see him! xxx
Hi Celia,
What a beautiful post. Your children are indeed wonderful human beings – but how could they not be, with parents like you and Pete?
Full of gratitude for my own family,
Kat S xx
Thanks Kat! I caught up with your folks recently, but haven’t seen that gorgeous bro of yours in ages! Please say hi for us!
A beautiful post Celia. x x x
Thanks Kavey! We’re lucky to have those wonderful Petes in our lives! :)
Celia…dabbing at my eyes here. No words to be had…
I think I’ll go and kiss my boys while they sleep…and fetch a tissue.
…thank you.
xxxx
B, if anyone knows how to enjoy their time with the wee folk, it’s you! Gorgeous boys that you and Mr Chocolate have! :) x
Having seen these two together IRL I have to concur they are both extraordinary men. But there’s no surprise because I’ve met their parents! ;) x
Aaah you’re kind, thanks Lorraine! :)
What a lovely, heartwarming post. You must be a very proud Mum.
Pamela
Thanks Pamela! I really am! :)
Another lovely post Celia. I think you have a very special family. You must have all had a hard time when the cancer was diagnosed. I’m hoping that’s very much been put on the back shelf now.
Thanks Choc…it was a hard four years, but it’s all gone now. Small Man’s now a lean, tall eating machine. :)
They are very special, and we all learnt how to be grateful through SM’s illness.
Good on you for writing so honestly about life. It is a joy to be at home looking after kiddies and seeing them do things that you might miss at work.
Gill, just such a joy – I know society often talks about mothers who “sacrifice their careers” to be at home with children. Honestly, I always felt like it was such a gift!
Well you can tell your Big Boy that I am a mushbag too and proud of it.
Many tears have welled up as I read this post. It is wonderful to be able to feel, through your words, the love in your family. It makes me value the relationships I have today.
The beautiful J and I were very lucky to be able to share the fulltime parenting. I have always known those first 5 years would be treasured by child and parents alike.
Moo {:0)
Thanks dearheart! Your Mini Moo is already exuding the confidence of a child who’s been blessed with lots of time and love. I’m so glad you and Beautiful Jane are able to both spend so much time with him!
Oh that made me mushy too! My boys are now 21 & 17 and I still can’t believe that they went from being born to grown up in a heartbeat. The older one just moved out on his own last month and it was a bittersweet experience. As I write this I am looking forward to seeing him tonight as he is coming over for Sunday dinner. While our two did not get along very well growing up, my husband and I now enjoy watching their relationship develop into a real friendship.
Thanks for sharing your blessings!
Lynn, it happens in the blink of an eye, doesn’t it? Moving out of home…wow, we’re not quite there yet, but I’m not looking forward to it! Hope you all had a lovely Sunday night dinner together!
Beautiful, beautiful post.
Thanks Vita.. x
Am I allowed to tear up while reading figjam?
Yes. You have been a part of our lives for so long, from before Pete and I were even married, and our boys adore you. Thanks for always being there for them… xxx
Lovely post Celia. Sweet photo of the boys too. I am surprised small man let you put that photo up…then again, he hasn’t read the blog post eh!? My Sam would say “embarassing!!”…his favourite word at the moment. And yes, they grow far too fast and I definitely don’t take enough time to savour each moment of this magic time in their lives. I must, I must…
Nothing to be embarrassed about, they were both so cute! ;-)
What a lovely photo! it is good to be reminded that these are precious times when you are right in the thick of it – especially when Miss 3 wakes you up at 2 am!
They sleep through eventually, Anna! Teenage boys need to be shaken awake…hahaha
Our jam packed lives go past so fast, so i thank you for making me stop for a minute to reflect on how truly blessed we are. You have 2 beautiful boys who have such amazing parents. God Bless you all.
Hi darlin’, I hope it’s all going well! Enjoy the time with your gorgeous small ones!
Oh Celia, you make my heart sing…
I have three adorable boys who I am thankful for every single day even when they drive me crazy!
Keri, three boys! Sounds like a wonderful adventure! :)
What a wonderful post, and a timely reminder to cherish every day (even the frustrating ones) with my irrepressible six-year-old. Thanks.
Thanks Nancy! I love reading about what you get up to with Miss B! :)
What a wonderful post. I am glad that everything worked out with your child. I had a friend at my old work whose child went through a really nasty illness. Must be such a hard thing to endure.
Thanks Susan, it was an interesting time. All good now! :)