Milestones - His First Job

Of all the milestones of the childhood – first tooth, steps, day of school, etc – I like the surprise milestones the best. Surprise milestones are the ones I didn’t anticipate but that I have enough perspective to note. Milestones that mean my son is really able to do something new, something he takes pride in. These surprise milestones are actually easier to note in the second child and beyond. I think with the first kiddo I was so in the moment with him that I often didn’t think until later – wait, he’s never done THAT before! First drop off playdate, first walk to the neighbor’s to drop something off, first sleepover. Then there are all the smile-to-yourself but look-stern milestones – first eye roll, first accidental swear word, first completely contrived excuse for a mistake. “I left the milk out and the fridge open becaaaauuuusssse… (inspiration hits) I heard a noise on the front porch and thought it was far more important to protect my younger brothers from the alien ship that might have landed there then worry about the milk!” Delivered with a straight face? Five bonus points and shortened time-out sentence, not that I would ever TELL him that. The milestone that caught me by surprise this week? First paying job. My almost 9 year old is now an official Parents’ Helper to a 2 year old boy in our neighborhood. He went over there for about 2 hours to play with this boy so that his parents can get some stuff done around the house. Not a lot different than his life at our house –we too have a two year old – but it feels so different to him! There is so much good for kids from a paying job. They get to work on respectful, helpful relationships with other grown-ups. They get to earn some cash. They discover what it takes to get re-hired (or not). And we get to learn to stay out of it. Such good practice for both him and me! So it’s a milestone for me as well. What milestones have surprised you?