Mom Boss Gratitude & My Baby!

The past few years our older two kids have demanded the spot light as they had prom, graduation, college and then respective college activities, it is part of growing up Guyer (and not unique to our family).  My baby (my Colby) just rolls with it as he has since day one.  

While he rolls, he was never behind the scenes, he has always been front and center in our family: delightful, charming, smart, funny, athletic and as a child sometimes mischievous.  We have a nickname for him and his world “Colbism”, meaning he just crushes most things he takes on—he is magnetic, and draws people in.   

This week, I get to brag on my baby, as he had two great things happen in his favorite sport, first was being selected by his coach for an interview for our local paper (seeing his words and feedback just warms our hearts).    Two days ago we just got a call that he has been recruited to attend an event for HS hockey players in St. Louis (I honestly don’t know much about it) and he is not an elite D1 player, so we don’t even know if it will be in his future, but to be invited is an honor.   This Mom Boss is so proud, I think about all those years of hockey practice, driving all over New England and thankfully my husband and I shared that responsibility—it is a big commitment (like it was for dance for my daughter) but so worth it when they love what they are doing and build friendships and miles of memories.  These moments make me so grateful for having a business that allowed me to flex my time and efforts to meet all these needs, it is never lost on me how fortunate I have been (and continue to be).  

My Baby, a junior in high school, and the only one home.  People ask me all the time what it is like having just one at home.  My first reaction is that it is weird, we are so used to more and miss the other two.   However, we are loving having him to ourselves, something he has never had (as the third child he just always rolled).  It helps that he is easy, this kid is so easy….  He takes care of his things (for the most part), is fun to be around and runs with a great group of kids, we could not feel more blessed.  

I future trip and think about in less than 2 years he will be off to college, but remind myself stay here, stay now.   He hugs me most every day, we tell each other “I love you” and we laugh even more.  He plays too many video games in his room, but I am at the point with my kids that I trust them, I know them and their values, heart, hard work, kindness and the important things are all there.  Junior/Senior year is preparing them too to be more independent, to be more about teaching than barking rules (although we bark the rules when we need too)!   I don’t love his screen time and food choices, but beyond that, I am so proud of who he is, how he is and how he shows up in the world.  My Colby.  

This boy has me wrapped around his finger, he owns my heart.  

My FAVORITE thing in life is seeing my kids be good humans, that by far is my greatest joy.

We never wanted (or shall I say pushed) them to be the best, rather, we demanded they be good humans, try hard, balance school work with fun/play time and to above all else, be kind.   There are so many things about parenting I am not expert on, or perfect at, I have fallen many times.  But….  Our priorities and what we expect of our kids, has been something we value and cherish, and continue to see the messages, lessons and beliefs being demonstrated in these young adults.   Are they perfect, NOOO WAY, they make mistakes, they screw up, and we use those moments as opportunities to take responsibility, and learn from it.  

So while the dynamics in our home have changed, we are loving our time with him, and as a Mom Boss, I am so grateful I have time for all the things, even when I need to make a decision not to be there, I am able to do so.  

He may be 17, but he is and will always be my Baby Boy!