My Child Has Officially Outgrown Me

Milestones

pregnant woman in pink dress sitting on bed

There comes a moment in every parent’s life when their children begin to eclipse them. I experienced that moment recently when my son, now 11, not only outperformed me in strength but has also shown signs of surpassing me in other areas.

The incident started when I was struggling to open a jar of gourmet nut butter, the kind sealed tightly in glass. My recent neck strain from lifting groceries didn’t help my cause. As I huffed over the jar, my son, munching on his breakfast, chimed in, “I can do it, Mom.” He used a butter knife to tap the lid—a technique I had failed at—and effortlessly twisted it open. The satisfying pop of the jar was music to my ears as he handed it over, beaming with pride.

In that moment, I felt a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of my own childhood when my sister and I amazed my mom with our tech-savvy skills. Fast forward to today, and my son has officially become stronger than me. To add to the list, he was faster than I ever was, outpacing me even as a toddler. In fact, he once outran a local NFL player at a community track event.

His tech skills are impressive, too. Currently, he’s diving into coding in his tech class and expertly juggles our TV’s three remote controls like a pro. He even seems to have a knack for humor; when I cracked egg-related puns about my new egg cooker, he replied, “Mom, you need to egg-spand your repertoire of egg jokes.” Touché!

When it comes to academics, he clearly has the upper hand in math and general intelligence. Recently, while discussing current events, I was blown away by his awareness of topics like the fall of the Berlin Wall—information he picked up from a book. He’s even considering joining a stock club at school to simulate investing in the stock market, and honestly, I might just take his advice for real.

Every parent ultimately hopes their child will exceed them in various ways, and I certainly want my son to thrive in every aspect of life. While browsing the supermarket recently, my son spotted something called the “Mighty Gripper,” a handy rubber pad designed to assist in opening stubborn jars. “That looks like something you could use, Mom,” he joked, and I realized he was right. The four-pack was a steal, and now I’m opening jars left and right—though I know if I ever encounter a stubborn one, my son will be my go-to for assistance.

As time goes on, I suppose I’ll have to adapt to seeking advice from him rather than the other way around. It’s a strange thought, but soon enough, I’ll likely be asking him to operate the latest technology in a retirement home, while he’ll be the one in the know. But there’s still hope; I bet he doesn’t even know how to set up a VCR—though, to be honest, I never quite figured that out either.

For more relatable parenting stories, check out this blog post. If you’re looking for guidance on fertility, Make a Mom is a great resource, and Healthline provides excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination.

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Summary:

In a humorous reflection on the changing dynamics of parenthood, a mother realizes that her son has officially surpassed her in strength, intelligence, and tech-savviness. As he navigates life with newfound skills, she acknowledges the natural progression of children outgrowing their parents and the importance of supporting their growth.

Keyphrase: My Child Has Officially Outgrown Me

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