The Gravy Years
My friend Annette, who has 4 grown adult children, calls the years of elementary school “the gravy years”. These are the years when parents are through the potty training and sleep deprived infant and toddler stage and before puberty and teen drama arrive.
My husband and I are enjoying “the gravy years” now with our 7 and 10 year olds. We had our first two kids, now 17 and 19, when we were newly married. The first time around, I don’t think we fully appreciated those years. I spent most of my time worrying about whether I was doing things wrong and comparing myself to an unachievable ideal in my mind. I didn’t realize what I had when I had it, how fast those years would go by, and how much I would miss them when they were gone.
There are some great things about having teenagers too, and I’m sure I will miss these years as well someday, but there is just something about witnessing the elementary years a second time around.
Here’s what I love about these “gravy years”.
1. We tuck the kids into bed each night with snuggle time, reading, and telling stories about the day. It’s nice to know they will sleep through the night (more than they used to)
2. They aren’t embarrassed to be around us parents and they enjoy time with family.
3. Travel is much easier than when they were little. We can hop in the car and drive a few hours without complaint. There are less stops and booster seats are so much easier than infant seats.
4. We know their friends and their friends’ parents. They are home before 9pm and we always know where they are and who they are with.
5.. We can eat in a restaurant again without a highchair.
6. No more diaper bag!
7. The kids can stay with Grandparents or a babysitter so that mom and dad can have date nights and an occasional getaway!
What are your favorite things about the elementary years?