On October 6th we celebrated my oldest daughter's 27th birthday. It was happy and sad. I can't believe I have a daughter that old because I don't feel anywhere near as old as I have to be to have one that old. Time does march on for children and parents alike.

Lately I have been transcribing some of my old columns into computer friendly copy and came across this column that I wrote in October 1988. It brought back smiles and a few foolish tears as well. I felt I would like to share the old column with, hopefully, some new readers. The column was called Heather's Views and it was a weekly column I wrote for a local, weekly newspaper called Rural Route. I wrote for them for a few years so I have lots of old columns to transcribe. Can you believe I wrote on an old electric typewriter. Later I was given a computer. A dual floppy Sanyo that ran WordStar. I thought I was in heaven. My, how times have changed.

Heather's Views

The kids are GONE! The house is QUIET! I can do whatever I want to with no one trying to "help". Then why do I feel like something is missing? This summer, the kids grew up. Oh , they are still little folk, only 7 and 8, but somewhere along the way they matured and became real persons. All of a sudden they are telling me what they are thinking and how they feel about their life and the lives around them. Playing has taken on a more realistic flavor. The oldest is doing dishes even when I haven't asked her to and both of them are doing their chores matter of factly instead of with an argument.

Privacy is becoming more important and they are knocking on doors before entering. Daddy can no longer go in the washroom while the girls are in the tub, even with the shower curtain pulled tight. Now when they see their father in his undies, they run giggling to their room. Daddy is wearing his bathrobe much more frequently now days. They are starting to inquire more about "girl stuff" and doing their nails is a must before going somewhere special. They are growing up and somewhere, this summer, a small piece of childhood has gone missing. And I find myself grieving over something that I have no control over - the realities of life.

The children are enjoying their newly discovered independence while I am mourning over it. They do not feel childhood's loss, only I do. While their interests are becoming more diversified mine are becoming more channelled and while they are becoming more flexible, I am becoming more scheduled. Time is marching and I have to admit that I am not ready for the trip - not yet.

Parents have the chance to relive the wonders of childhood, vicariously, through the lives of their children. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to do all the things you didn't get a chance to do while you were little. And you have a perfectly good excuse to do them. So, while my little ones are getting ready to let go of some of their childhood world, I am the one still holding on. What fools we can make of ourselves when we try hard. As I have said so many times in past columns, enjoy your children while you can, in the blink of a summer's eye, it can all become a memory.

I leave you with a point to ponder from James Agee 1909-1955 "In every child who is born, under no matter what circumstances, and of no matter what parents, the potentiality of the human race is born again."