Then comes the dreaded day when your child leaves home – either to go away to university/college or just to share a flat with friends. Although this may be a worrying time for parents, we have to let them go – we just need to know that they are safe and will phone home for help or a lift home when necessary. The teenage years will see your child slipping away even faster as he gets to the stage where he is old enough and responsible enough to go out on his own. As he develops new friendships (and a new sense of himself), he will be taking part in activities with other children, going out for tea in a friend’s home, going to sleepovers and birthday parties.ĭuring secondary school years, there will undoubtedly be school trips which will take him away for a day (or even a week) at a time, visiting new places with his classmates and friends – this is all part of growing up. Very often his teacher will become the adult that he looks up to and adores (and listens to and believes) which is a charming part of the early school years.

He will make new friends and meet new people. Once your little one starts school, he will begin to develop a sense of independence. Family days out are geared around what is best for the children – city farms, walks in the woods, picnics on the beach or in the park – all great ways to have fun as a family. We take them around to parent and toddler groups, soft play, swimming classes, etc. However, as a mum of two grown up daughters, I can confirm that they do grow up too fast and when the times comes for them to fly the nest, it’s much harder to cope with than having to be “on it” every single second of every day! Those early years really are to be cherished – you get to spend time playing with and teaching your children and this really can be the best time of your life.ĭuring the early, pre-school years, parents get used to being with their little ones for most of the time (especially those lucky enough to be able to choose to stay at home and raise the children). It’s an old adage that most parents hear many times “They grow up so fast” and when the children are small it seems like we are so busy parenting 24/7 that we often feel a break would be welcome.

Baby growing up too fast