I know all you moms out there have asked yourselves this same question many times in your mothering lives...
How did it happen? My youngest turned 14 on May 20th.
Look at him. When I found this picture a few weeks ago, it was like it was just taken. We had taken the boys to Bandera, TX to stay at The Silver Spur Ranch for a couple of days. Bandera prides itself on being the "Cowboy Capital of the World"! He was in heaven. Horseback rides, goats, ducks, chickens, sheep, longhorn cattle. Anyone who knows Troy for longer than an hour realizes that he is in love with animals. One of my favorite Troy moments is when he announced, "I'll never be really happy until I have 40 dogs!" Even to this day, at "big, young man, 14 years old" he would stick by that statement made so long ago.
Want to know some more things I love about Troy? Have you got some time? I have a bunch of them!
He is kind, sensitive, intense, helpful, spiritual, hardworking, tenacious, focused, smart, funny, charming, earnest (my dad's personal favorite), faithful, loving, silly, handsome, athletic, competitive, gentlemanly, responsible, independent, friendly, generous and talented. I could go on and on, but I'm sure you get the picture. This young man is awesome!
Only one problem... He's 14. He is going to go to church dances now and dance with girls. He wants to break free from Mom and become Dad's best friend. His voice is getting lower. I constantly hear comments from the mothers and younger sisters of girls his age who think he is the cutest 14 year old within a 30 mile radius. He has a facebook page. He doesn't really like my music anymore. He thinks bodily functions are hilarious. Oh wait, he always thought that. What do you expect with 2 older brothers?
I might shed a tear or two when I see these old pictures. But, it won't be because I miss the little boy he was. It will be because I'm so blessed to be the Mom of "The Boy Named Troy".