March 19

It's a surreal experience to look over at your kid and realize "wow, he almost looks like an adult."

I had said-revelation this evening as I drove Isaac home following his game in Danville. As we turned down the street he parks on during the school day so he could retrieve the Explorer, I glanced over at him. He's not feeling 100% so he was sitting back against the headrest with his eyes closed. And suddenly, in that moment, with a few days' stubble on his jawline and the chain Abby gave him for Christmas around his neck, he looked so old; so distinctively not kid-like. (But of course his eyes snapped open and he gave me A Look before I could take a pic, so this is as close as I got.)

It was striking. But it was also a blessing to see him that way, as he was right in that moment because like many moms (I suspect, anyway), I still think of him as... younger. I miss the cute, chunky baby he was way back when, but I adore the young man he's becoming.