The Bond

We haven't been home this past three weekends, so in every one of those weekends Lucas would be sleeping next to us.  He has to when we are in someone else's house.  I somehow got used to it, so last night I wanted him to sleep next to me.

He just lay there for a little while, me thinking he would be dozing off shortly.  But he couldn't sleep and shortly thereafter, he got up and said "sleep crib!" while pointing to his crib.  "Are you sure?" I asked, but he kept asking me to move him back to his crib.

I have to admit--I was a little broken-hearted.  How can he not want to sleep next to me anymore?  He used to like it.  I used to tuck him in next to me, in the bed, and just move him to his crib when he was already asleep because he didn't like sleeping there by himself.  Now he's gotten used to it and would rather be there than next to his mom.

My little boy is growing up so fast.  I hope there will not come a time when he won't want me or his dad in his room anymore.  When he would rather be with his friends than with us.  When he would rather go out than join us for a quiet dinner.  When he would have too many activities that he can no longer come with us to church on Sundays.

There are things I cannot stop, like a child getting old and gaining his independence.  But there are things I think I can do to keep us close and hold that bond that will keep him coming back to me no matter how far apart life takes us.  And this, to me, is the greatest challenge of motherhood.