Would You Like Some Queso Dip With Your Epiphany?

February 08, 2010

Today while I was folding one of the 15 trillion loads of laundry I do every week, I reflected on the very pleasant weekend we just had. My mother-in-law was with us for a visit, and we watched movies and talked and generally carried on with ice cream and scotch and wine, each to her own. She’s my surrogate mom while my own mom is so very far away in California, and I’m grateful to have her only an hour away.

On Sunday, we watched the Super Bowl—and found ourselves invaded. It’s been a tradition this football season to make queso dip for consumption during football games, and it’s also become a tradition for our son’s friends to come over on Sunday and scarf it down. (My husband and I are lucky to get 10 chips between us—but that’s OK. We don’t really need them anyway.) This Sunday was no different. We made the queso, and added a slow cooker full of Little Smokies in BBQ sauce, and suddenly we had a party. At one point, we had five teenage boys in the kitchen, and two of them brought snacks! Somehow, our son had managed to arrange his very own Super Bowl party. Larry’s mom leaned over to me and said, “You’ll really miss this when he’s gone.” I looked back at her, a little wild-eyed, and realized that I will. Despite the chaos and noise and incredible amount of food consumption (and the Sprite can in the palm tree), I will miss those boys. They’re good kids, they have a lot of fun together, and they are growing up fast. Soon they’ll be off to college and jobs and life.

Sunday afternoons will be awfully quiet.

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10 comments

  1. Awww, hugs to you.

    Scary thoughts, huh?

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  2. As the tears roll down my cheeks, I know you are right...

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  3. Ah.... this sure brings up memories for me of when my two oldest boys were still at home. I echo the thoughts - treasure him while he is at home.

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  4. Thanks for the hugs and encouragement. Probably tomorrow I'll want to ship him to Timbuktu. But for now, I'm holding him close. (Much to his embarrassment.)

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  5. It's so wonderful that you realize it now, while you have him there. :) Great post! Your writing was fun and very moving.

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  6. Some days it's easier to remember than others. This weekend was just so nice, with all three local generations together and having fun. I also appreciate the compliment. I really like the way you write, so that means a lot to me.

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  7. Aww, I can relate. I keep telling my 9 year old he's not allowed to get any taller, or grow up. Good thing it's a gradual process! Sounds like you had a great time during the Superbowl game.

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  8. Just wait until he's taller than you are. My son likes to stand in front of me and say, "I look down on you," and he's only about two inches taller than I am! Isn't it weird to look at them and remember the little babies they used to be?

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  9. Great post Kathy...good reminders...So true but it's hard when you're in the moment of chaos and frustrated. We always seem to yearn for those parenting times gone by but honestly, I don't miss newborn or three, 5+ yes. I loved those years. Tween time is really great too, minus the mouth!

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  10. Thanks, Laura. Don't tell anyone, but I don't miss newborn/toddler stages, either. Preschool and beyond were much more fun!

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