When Do Kids Grow Up?

When is the actual point when you as a father are no longer the center of your son’s universe? Age 13? 15? 18?

It seems it was just a short time ago when my sons would eagerly await an evening out – dinner and a movie, mini-golfing, bowling, something. Now it's more like “Dad, I’m going out…can I have some money?” I am left to my own devices; alone to make my own plans.

My sister’s kids are much younger and I see them still following my sister around like little ducklings. I try to think back when this streak of independence actually took hold in my boys. When it became “uncool” to be caught at the movies with your old man. But it did and it's the normal progression of things. I guess I’d be more concerned if at ages 15 and 17 they still wanted to hang with me on a Saturday night.

The flip side is that we still live in the same house (not for long–college is around the corner), we still eat our meals together, we watch TV and laugh and talk, we have our dogs, and there’s a whole lot of noise and energy in the house. And I’m thankful for each and every day.

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