I feel comforted (or terrified) knowing what stages are next for our kids; I guess I’m a planner.

In the infancy stage, I eagerly watched friends’ older babies eat solids, walk, and begin to talk and couldn’t wait for my own baby to do the same. I’d also watch the tantrums and the food-throwing, and while those didn’t look fun, at all, it did mentally prepare me for what was to come.

In toddlerhood, I’d watch older kids get their own shoes on, saying please and thank-you without being prompted, and playing on their own. And I also watched the attitudes and defiance, but again, it was strangely comforting, especially once my own hit that stage.

And now, with my eldest two being somewhat older kids I am looking at the moms with teenagers who are spending their Friday nights cheering their kids on under the spotlight, traveling with ease and whose kids do chores like mowing the lawn. I also watch the kids spending more time with friends, becoming hurt by a crush and wanting to be in solitude.

And right now, I am also watching a friend a few steps ahead of me prepare her son for college…

The majority of my friends back home have younger children than we do, but where we live and with the friends I have now, I’ve always been the mom with young kids, picking the brains of those ahead of me.

Until, I was at the park the other day with my crew when two other moms rolled up pushing their kids in strollers. Their kids ranged in age from nine months to three-year-old, and from the moment they arrived it was nonstop.

Our park experiences were similar in some ways and very different in others. While we all chased our toddlers around the play equipment ensuring their safety, my older two ate the lunches packed for them on their own, played on the equipment without me following them, filled their own water bottles up and even helped the other toddlers around the area.

Those mamas watched in amazement; not only at the self-sufficiency of my own older children but how they were able to help out with the littes.  They helped them walk over the scary wobbling bridge, pushed them on the swings, lifted them up to get a drink of water, made sure they didn’t topple over the side of the equipment, and just held their hand while they walked around.

After asking if they could adopt my older two to help around the house, I agreed as long as they’d be okay with sibling arguing and maybe a stiff-arm here or there (between my own children, not targeted at theirs..ha)  and we then began chatting about how to get babies to sleep through the night. We also talked about what preschools I recommended around the area and what sports my children started first. We talked about ways to get a picky eater to eat anything other than granola bars and fishy crackers and how we potty-trained our older kids.

And suddenly, I realized I was the veteran mom. I was the mom these women were looking to for advice and to just hear what life was like at the next stage.

This was something I had never experienced before.

It all just made realize what stage of life we are in right now, and how quickly it is happening. My older two are pretty much 1/3 of the way DONE being under our roof.

And my BABY is almost two.

And to some,  I am now the veteran mom.

As much as it startled me to realize what position I was now in, it came full circle and was comforting knowing I was able to offer a suggestion here and there, just as was once done for me. Actually, still IS done for me!

While I am not one to usually offer up suggestions or recommendations without being asked, as I fully respect each parent’s space and style, it did feel good to be asked and I happily shared whatever I could to answer those ladies’ questions.

So, the next time a fellow mom is doing something you’re curious about or seems to have some knowledge to share, ask! Even if you don’t know them. My guess is they won’t mind sharing and will gladly do so.

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