Because life is tough, sugar...

I'm not here judging anyone. I'm a quiet person, and I like to observe people and how they act, speak, etc. Lately it seems like everyone on social media is lamenting their children growing up. I get it, I really do. Every day Addison hugs me, then turns to Adam and says, "Look at how much taller I am than Mom!" If I'm outside or somewhere else in the house, sometimes I get scared because I hear a man's voice. It's not an intruder - it's my man-child who's voice has changed. It's taken some getting used to, trust me. It's inevitable that our children will grow up, God willing. It's our job as parents to make sure they turn into adults, productive adults and generally good people. That said, here I go.

Stop babying them. It's okay to treat them like a child, because they are. But to try to keep them young is nothing but a disservice to them. Life is tough, and it only gets tougher the older you get. Not teaching a child life skills because you're lazy or trying to keep them babies is wrong. Teaching your kid to tie her own shoes isn't going to make her suddenly grown up. It's teaching her a life skill she'll need. I know each child reaches different milestones at different times. If your child is ready to be potty trained, by all means, potty train them. I don't know about you, but the day I stopped wiping Addison's ass was one of the best of my life.

I've been extremely lucky raising Addison. So much so I'll say it again. I've been extremely lucky raising Addison. It's been easy. Just like I was good until I hit the age of 13 and turned into a teenager. We are close - he tells me things a lot of teenaged boys wouldn't tell their moms. I've always been open with him. There is nothing we don't talk about, out in the open, in this house.

YOU ARE THE PARENT. I've seen so many parents kowtow and bargain with a child in a store. I don't know what's going on in their lives, but if Addison had ever acted like that in public, he'd be dragged out to the car, not offered a toy of his choice if he would just stop, and me asking him over and over, "Okay, is that okay with you?"

Like I said, I'm not judging, just voicing my observations. Prepare your kids for life, for the ups and downs of being an adult. It's going to happen, no matter how long you give your kid a bottle. Do the right thing by them, for yourself and for the world. Life's tough - make them tougher.