How Much Longer Will He Stay a Little Boy?

You can expect him to remain "little boy-ish" until sometime between 10 and 12, or even 13, per some responses below. Usually about 12. You will still get some of those sweet moments until the hormones start to kick in. So don't worry, you have lots of years yet.

Enjoy those years, and be in the moment, because it will all go by faster than you think.

breathe and get a drink=)
my daughter started k when she was 4, this past year and I worried about everything under the sun before she started: is she too young, is she going to have friends, and so on...and do you know what on that day she started K she came home and was the same age and kid as the morning I dropped her off....granted a starrving, tired kid, but the same Emmy I dropped off=) BTW she did go through a phase from being in befroe and after care with bigger kids where it wasnt cool for M. to kiss her in public anymore, I let her lead the way and now in summer camp we're back to kissing goodbye...I always was allowed to hug still. (she went to k from 7am-5pm too)
She's starting 1st grade when she's going to be 5 (6 shortly after) and she's still by little cuddly girl at home

My 13 year old son was almost sitting in my lap while watching TV last night.

Yes, he does it to be funny as he is now 6 inches taller than me, but he is still my little boy and still shows affection. He hugged me before leaving for a week of camp, at home, but he did it first! I would have done it at the bus in front of friends so he took the embarrassment out of it.

He'll never not be your little boy. I don't care how old they get or how mature they become. To you and many parents our children, even the grown ones are our babies.

My adult son still ends every conversation with "I love you mom". My Adult DD's do to. They have always done it, in the hall at high school, after a sports game. It didn't matter. Even my overly rebellious teen DD who tested every boundary out their said she loved me.

I can say that boys tend to hold onto the little kid in them a lot longer then little girls. My 20 year old son just gave his younger sibling his last Lego kit. This same son also took his Hot Wheels to college with him. He is such a mature young man, but he still has the heart of a little boy...works out great for his much younger siblings.

School will not change who your son is, it will only add to the man he will one day become. Your worries are very normal, but you'll soon marvel at all of the things he does and learns.

Your son will only love you more as he gets older. They never stop loving and appreciating their mothers.

It is so hard to see them grow and think they do not need us. but I promise, it only gets better. You will be so proud of his accomplishments, you will love seeing what a hard worker he is, how honest, how he wants to always do his best so he can please you..

Our daughter graduated from College this spring, she now has her first real job and she still says, "Mothjrrrrr (very dramatic) I need a hug!! I need a mom hug!" Then she drapes her self over me, because I am so short compared to her..

She says "motherrr. I will miss you today while I am at work.."
I am still enjoying her while she is home till she gets her first apt..

I promise, your child will always be your little boy, when he is able to go into the classroom and do a good job, you will know you have done a good job.. Keep up the good work..

FYI, on the first day of school, make a breakfast date with someone, so you will have a plan to go somewhere and talk it all out..

Aaaaw, but don't you know? He'll ALWAYS be your little boy!

:)

I've heard that before - that boys pull away from their Moms, and maybe some do.
Ours hasn't so far and he's 13.
I expected at about 8 he'd be more Daddy oriented.
They do things together - they are best buddies.
But he still hugs me (and Dad) every day even though he's 5' 11" and going into 8th grade this fall.
He's well balanced and affectionate and popular.
Strong relationships between Mom and son shape how he'll manage his adult relationships.
Your son is only going into kindergarten and he's still got a lot of growing to do.
He's a long way from leaving for college and/or getting married.
I've seen some special ed kids who can't develop past a certain stage - they'll be mentally about 5 yrs old their whole lives.
Growing up and developing normally are not the worst things that can happen and it shouldn't be dreaded.
Celebrate each stage!

I have a cousin that has kids about 10 years older than mine.

I remember talking to her about the very same thing.
She told me "They just keep getting cuter and cuter!" And you know what? It's so true.

It's not true that he will love you less as he gets older.
Mine is 9 and I can assure you that's just not true.

So relax, and enjoy every moment of his new found independence and personality.

You know what "they" say--you give your kids roots, then wings. I think starting K is the very start of the new, tiny wings. :)

I will admit I never felt the way you did. Not because I didn't like being around my son, but because I was so excited for him! But I always loved school, especially the early years, and I couldn't wait for my son to have all those wonderful experiences. I am also very much a glass-half-full person, I never focus on the negative "what ifs." Not because I think nothing bad will ever happen, but why tear myself up thinking about it? Life is an adventure, if you have that attitude you will pass it on to your child. If you are sad and worried and fearful he will pick up on that too. Just something to think about.
And for what it's worth, my son is 19 and we still have a close relationship. I was a big part of his life for many years, I volunteered at his school, read chapter books to him every night up through the third grade, led his cub scout troop and served as team parent for his teams all the way through high school. Last summer I moved him out of state to college. Yes it was bittersweet to say goodbye but I felt I did my job, and I did it well. Raising a child is about beginnings not endings. First words, first steps, first day of school, first love, first day of college, marriage, kids, I look forward to it all! I love watching my kids grow and thrive, try to see it that way, as a POSITIVE thing, it really is!!!

Mine just turned 6. He "graduated" from kindergarten in June. He still watches Curious George and the Cat in the Hat during our weekly "movie night," though the rest of the week, he's reading the Harry Potter books. Sometimes, after I kiss him goodnight, he still asks if he can have "just a little snuggle." He tells me that when he grows up, he will have his own house, but right next door to mine.

In my experience, kindergarten adds big-kid qualities, but it doesn't take the little-kid qualities away. It's a process of addition, not subtraction.

Take a deep breath and send him out the door. All the love and nurturing you've given him, he'll take it with him wherever he goes.

Aw, sweet mama. It's going to be alright.

My son was still quite snuggly at age four. I remember a friend saying I should enjoy it because it wasn't going to last much longer. She was wrong. I mean, it did end eventually (not entirely, but he's 19 now and taller than me... holding him on my lap is no longer an option, LOL), but not for years and years.

Aw :(.

The first day of school for the oldest is so hard! My oldest is going into 4th grade, and it doesn't get any easier with letting them go, unfortunately. I work full-time, so I cherish the non-stress time (summer) I get with them.

My youngest is 5 and going into K this year as well. I'm dreading it. Last year I picked him up from the sitter and got to have lunch with him every day before I put him on the bus for pre-k. I hate that I am losing that.

However, my kids STILL all run up to me and hug and kiss me, tell me they love me. Even at school in front of their friends. They are 9, 7, and 5 and none of them care what their friends think. I have friends who's little ones are embarrassed, but it makes me wonder if they hugged and kissed the living day lights out of them when they were younger. I did and so it's normal in our house to be affectionate. This morning my 5 year old crawled in my lap while I ran the blow dryer through my hair and he watched cartoons. I love it!

I am just as sad as you are about how fast time is going, but I love each and every day with my kids and the new things that come, so that helps me. Keep in mind though that your kids are ALWAYS your kids no matter how old they get. I still call my kiddo's my babies and they love it. Just keep doing you and he'll follow the lead :). It will be okay!

Take lots of pictures and bring tissues. I know I'll be in tears.

It does go by so fast!! The best you can do is to slow your life down and appreciate all of those little moments. I am like you... I loved having my kids with me before they started school and I still love them being home in the summer... and I understand, but can't relate to people I know who dread the school breaks and summer.

I don't think it goes downhill from age 5... good grief! If you continue to keep a close relationship with you kids, though it might look a little different they love you just as much. In fact with my 8 years old daughter sometimes she shows her appreciation more than when she was younger because now she's out at friends houses and seeing different things in her environment and realizing that she has it pretty good. Not that there's anything wrong with her friends or their families, it's just different from what she knows and she seems to appreciate us more.

My son is almost 7 and still needs snuggles at night, still kisses me and hugs me many times a day, still wants me to play with him. Enjoy the changes that are coming up and don't get stuck in the sadness of them growing up. I think as they get a little older they need you even more!

Good luck Mama~ Try to put your brave face on at kinder drop off and save your tears for after he's in the class room. You'll be excited when he comes home and tells you about the new friends he's made and the fun things that he's learning. And remember that it's really good for him to learn from other people and that those experiences are ones that you can't give him.

Sending you a hug~

I think it's all about their personality. My son just turned 10 and still very much loves his mom! We are very close. No, he doens't like Pooh anymore, but when I make homemade pancakes with fruit, he says "I love you mom, you're the best mom ever!" :)

Not there yet, but I get the sentiment. Some time ago, DS lost that sweet baby smell about his hair and scalp and smelled instead, like the sweaty, clammy little toddler that he is and embodies. I embraced it, but was a feeling uncharacteristically sappy about the change.

Life is full of milestones. Smile and enjoy them.
Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

My best friend was over last night with her two boys (10 and 6) and if it helps she is just like you! When her "baby" went to Kindergarten last fall she was beside herself for all of the same reasons.

When they walked in the door last night, both boys ran in and hugged me and my husband without hesitation and then promptly ran to the basement with our 4 yr old son to play trains and Transformers. They still snuggle, say "I love you" and look forward to playdates with my little one... in private. In public, I get a hug but it's quicker.

You will cry your eyes out, but you will be excited because you want him to be excited! My son is 4 and I cried all the way to work on his first day of preschool. He looked like a "big boy" with his new sneakers and lunch box. It's just part of being a parent. You'll cry at every major transition he goes through... middle school, high school, college, first apartment, wedding, etc. It's just what we do.

Its nice to see that other moms are a sentimental as I am about my boys. HEre is what I ahve found-mine are 8 & 10. In some aspects they are still SO my babies. They are the same little snugglers that they always were-unafraid to tell me how much they love me and to want to be with me. In some aspects they HAVE changed.
*They no longer like little kid shows-this happened around second/third grade for my oldest and unfortunately the youngest goes with the oldest. THey now watch raunchy cartoons and a ton of ESPN. But honestly this happened so naturally that it wasnt too sad.
*My oldest has been concious of public affection since first grade, He even went through a phase where he didn't like me to be at his school. However my youngest is still cool with it so each kid is different.
*Don't worry about the kids teasing him. In my experience little boys really do not do that. Girls are the ones that tease and bully at this age. Boys live and let live it seems.
*My 10 yo is the one I am really starting to see the changes in just recently. He is becoming so much more self concious in group settings. WHere he used to be unafraid to mix with other kids now he stands back if he doesn't know anyone. In many other ways I am noticing him starting to pull away and search for independence. While necessary it makes me so sad to think about. However I am SO proud of the person that he is turning out to be. I am also MUCh more afraid of things like bullying and teasing because lately I have noticed a marked change in his peer group. They are breaking off into cliques where there is definite pecking order-(football players being the "coolest" :-(
So mama-sorry to digress. I just want to say that while the years ARE going by fast, if you are the type of mom who strives to have a special relationship with your little boy you will always have it. Boys are a unique blessing to us moms who are willing to see it. If I could give one piece of advice it is to not sweat the small stuff. Small stuff is a messy house and things undone. You can cherish your moments with them by living in them-not worrying about mundane things. THe thing is-the mundane things will always be there even when the boys are grown.

Oh my gosh I felt the same way. The first few weeks my son was in Kindergarten were hard for me (not him). But it gets easier as time goes on. The older they get, the more you end up letting them go but that's how it's supposed to be.

Nobody knows the answers you seek.
All boys (and their mothers) are different.

My son loved Pooh when he was small, too. We had the mini-beanbag ones (Pooh, Eyeore, Rabbit and Piglet)... and he kept them on his bed. (He had a separate lovey though-- a snowman, unrelated to Pooh).

I remember watching my son do something one day and glimpsing his face, and for just a milli-second, I was able to "see" him as a teenager or older. It was upsetting to me. (Obviously, since I still remember it vividly, and it was over ten years or so ago...). But you know what? My son is probably even MORE loving than he was when he was little. Maybe not in public, but heck, he stopped the goodbye kiss at preschool drop-off when he was 4!

He will randomly walk up to me these days and say, "Mama, Can I have a hug?" and just give me a big ol' squeeze. He is 14 now, and only a shy few inches of being as tall as I am (I'm 5'7"). We wear the same size shoes! When he calls me on the phone, he ends the call with "I love you".

He is turning into such a lovely young man, and I am so proud to be his Mama. And the sweet stuff doesn't just stop. He still tells me he loves me every day, and every night at bedtime. Sometimes the sweetness just gets better and more mature. :)

Enjoy these days, yes. But don't fear or dread him growing up. He won't stop loving you just because he's older. Write down all the sweet little things he does in a journal, so the innocence isn't lost. I think the love just gets better because it is a conscious choice to love and respect me now. Not just a mindless "that's the only person I know" kinda love. (if that makes any sense?) Now, he recognizes when he is causing me stress or worry or frustration... and will acknowledge it and apologize! Or notice when I am stressed (not because of him) and try to make me feel better or relax.

You really just can't know all the ways your son will change. And you can't fixate on "when it will end" because it may not ever, really. It probably will change and mature, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I love the man my son is growing into. :) And I still worry about him when he goes off to school. High school this year.

I think it's so funny how we mothers all get the biggest kick out of the little things in life. :) It's awesomely cool too...having said that, I think it's interesting that the daddies aren't all that as involved in these "milestones". I guess they are wired a little differently.
My son just turned 7 yesterday and he and I are very close. He's the love & light of my life and he knows it and still says he loves me now and then and gives me hugs/kisses still but the only difference is I have to ask on occasion instead of just accepting the offered ones. He and I talk about everything, giggle about anything, and still play together. I'll do my best to try and always keep it that way BUT I know that I can't make time stop and he's going to grow up and move away from me. All I can do is constantly reinforce his self-confidence, my values/morals, and reliance on a Higher Power. The rest is up to him.
I wish you an awesome journey with your child--eyes wide open now. :)

well mine has always been in childcare, but other than that, I FEEL YOU! he's my one and only baby and he is quite the mama's boy. sweet, and a little shy, and so not "cool" or "macho" like so many of these little boys are.

i had to enroll him in kindergarten yesterday :(

no advice here but we can be each other's shoulders! lol!

i also work with some of the folks like you're talking about. the lady that sits next to me sat down with a huff and said, "ugh i hate my kids sometimes" the other day - i almost fell out lol. i was like...wow. i have no idea what you're talking about.

i guess we should just be lucky that we have such great little boys and trust that in the end that's what matters, our great love for them and theirs for us. that won't go away.

mine still reaches for my hand in parking lots (he will be 6 in september). my heart aches everytime he does because i know it'll just be a matter of time before that's not "cool". lol.

but at home i still get all the lovin's and i hope that will take a LONG time to go away. we are a very affectionate family. i get the "cool" factor, i won't be one of those moms insisting he gives me kisses and hugs every morning in front of his friends, BUT at home, behind closed doors, CUDDLE TIME!!! :)

god help us lol. i'm all tearing up now....!!!

(OMG reading the other responses, fully bawling now...waaaah! lol!) i think we moms all get this little moment to feel sad. then we pull up our big girl panties and move on...isn't being a mom the best job ever? :)

My son will be 4 in 3 weeks, and he's a lot like your son. Every morning when I get home from work, he wakes up, gives me so much love, and it's just the best time ever. That little bit of time every morning reminds me why I'm here. There's so much love and it makes me feel so wonderful. I, too, worry about when it will end. I know in the back of my head it will, but my heart wants it to stay this way forever.

Here's an idea, get it on video and it will never end! I just might do that myself!

I completely and TOTALLY feel the same way about my precious little girl! She is young to go to K - she turns 5 in August. I am sending her, though, because it is best for her and she is ready. She is one of those SUPER sweet, overly kind and gentle souls without a mean bone in her body. Sooo innocent and loving. Her preschool teacher said that she is so sweet in every way that she actually needs to work on being more assertive and standing up for herself. I worry so much about her going off to kindergarten...will she get picked on? Will she be left out because she is so quiet? Will she be teased? Just the other day at the park, a little girl teased her because she said that her scooter was "a baby scooter" and then was teasing her because she still likes Dora. But I can be there in those situations and talk to her and protect her some. I get teared up just thinking about her off on her own. Girls can be mean! I guess we just have to put our faith in them and trust...

It is not all downhill from here. My son is 9 and still asks for hugs. He still loves his stuffed animals. He tells me he loves me all the time.
My brother snuggled with my mom each morning till he was 13 or 14. You have some years left :)
The awesome part is that there are still years of unabashed love but he is getting old enough that he can be independent sometimes and you can have some time for yourself. He can help around the house. He is not so young that he is getting into stuff and making crazy messes. I think that the ages my kids are at (4, 7 and 9) is the easiest I have had it but they are still little kids at heart and they still show lots of love for their mama.
It is great that you enjoy being around your child. Kindergarten is just a few hours a day. If you volunteer in the classroom, you will not only be a help to the teacher and students but maybe it will also help you with this transition. It is awesome to see your children and how they interact in a classroom with their friends and teacher (well, as long as they are behaving it is awesome! lol!)

I always enjoyed the time our kids were home, especially all of them, and they could play or do whatever and it was so nice all being there together. Then when each started school I felt like you and especially about the 'tease the little boy out of him' but not so much the little boy part but just facing the world alone more than they ever had before. But you are still there when he gets home and be sure you talk with him about his day and things that happen and you are preparing him for living in the world someday without you. Let him know you missed him but are happy he can enjoy learning and be part of it. Some day he won't like Pooh but he will still love you as much or probably much more. I still keep some of those little reminders of when they were little, things like Pooh or a special toy or little reminders and it still makes me shed a tear or two but I am glad they are grown into the people they are and that they still show their love in special ways even now. Our oldest is 43 now. He hasn't stopped loving us. It just changes. Be there no matter what the age and love each other for life. I do know how you feel though. Just be an active part of his school experience. Like you said the years do really go way too fast so cherish each minute and enjoy him and your love for him and he for you will grow and be shown in different ways. You'll still get hugs.

I don't know -- my husband is still a little boy in some ways. Aren't they all?

I totally get it -- I've stayed at home with my kids always, and letting them go to school was really hard. They're 10 and 8 now. My boy is going to second this year and he is just as loving as always. All I can say is that there is joy in every stage -- it's hard to let those toddler years go because of all the joy in it, but there is joy in what's coming, too. My 8 year old has developed a terrific sense of humor, a voracious love of reading, and a social world that I couldn't have predicted when he was 5. And when I'm sad about them growing up too fast, I remember the families that have endured the opposite - their child never growing up. It sobers me up to how blessed I am to be with my child as they grow into really fascinating pre-teens, and I'm excited for what the future holds.

Try to look at the child you're gaining, not the little boy you're leaving behind in memories.

Hi! My first born is almost 17 yrs old. He is definitely a mama's boy! He will be a Senior in High School and plays on the Varsity Baseball team. He has many friends of both sexes and is quite popular and outgoing. A truly wonderful boy/man. BUT, every time he walks out the door, calls on the phone and more, HE also say's "I LOVE YOU!" Even in front of his friends, he will give me a hug and kiss...some boy's will always show and tell their mothers how much they love them. Mine does and I love it!!!

I felt the same way when my daughter started middleschool! Im not ready for her to grow up yet. But maybe when she starts highschool..... lol jk

Try to appreciate all the stages - there are good and bad throughout. Today he's into bugs, and tomorrow Star Wars and then video games and girls...keep finding new ways to relate to him, so that even though he might orbit you in the mall (too cool for Mom), he might still hug you good nite. I wouldn't say "downhill" unless you don't expand your expectations/definition.

The years are going fast. :) My oldest is going to kindergarten this year. And I am very best friends with my 31 year old brother and I hear what he's thinking and see what he's doing in regards to our mom. And with delight, I watch my 53 year old husband's relationship with his mom. The answer: they will ALWAYS be your little boy. My mil loves her "baby", the youngest of 3 boys, and he's said "Yeah---you do know I'm 53 now?" and she says "Only 53? You're so young!" because she's 87. I will attest that boys ALWAYS love their moms. They might not be needy (that's a tribute to the fact that you can raise a boy to stand on his own two feet: a success!) and they might not need so many cuddles (because there's new things to explore), and they might not have you as their ONLY love when they get older (because they've now got more happiness and joy, and the love can be shared---a GOOD thing!) but they will always love their mom. My brother has a wife and 2 kids, but he's constantly concerned about mom's welfare and that shows his love for her even if he's not a cuddly kind of man. And my husband, same thing: he travels abroad to see her 2 weeks a year, but he phones her everyday and thinks of her often.
I like what a previous poster said about first giving them roots, then giving them wings. Life is not about holding on tight with everything on "pause" even though there are some moments you'd like to freeze and go back to. I guess that's what the video camera and lots of pictures are for. :) I flip flop a little bit I have to admit, but mostly I'm really excited for my son to start kindergarten this year. I enjoy him thoroughly, he's my little buddy, but he's also going to start branching out and practicing some of the lessons we've been teaching him for 5 years. He's going to start experiencing new things, learning new things, and I'm very excited that his little tiny wings are just starting to bud. I've already told him that I'm so excited I don't know what to do, and he has to PROMISE me he'll come home and teach me everything he learns since I can't go to kindergarten anymore. He promised. :) And yeah---he loves Star Wars and Spiderman but is still a little boy who was so excited to take pictures with Pooh at Disney this summer. I've found that the closer he's getting to starting school, the more he's telling us spontaneously for no reason that he loves us, with all his heart, forever and ever, no matter what. Something we've been telling him since he was an infant...now we're getting it back!

I like to think of it this way...I'm not raising children, I'm raising future adults. If he does grow up, then you are doing it right.

I keep waiting for it to happen with my older son, and he's almost 7. Out of my three kids, he's the sweetest and most loving. I get so sad thinking he will stop showing my so much affection as he gets older, but reading your other responses gives me hope!!!!

You've been blessed with a boy...he'll always need his mama. My daughter turned 16 this past year and she is "miss attitude and independent" whereas my 17 year old son still asks for me to make him food :), hangs out and watches movies with me and as long as I give him his space, just lets me be part of his life. Even if he does get some independence it won't be for probably another 10 years, so you just soak up all of the love you can and let me tell you something, the "I love you Mommy's" never stop. My 20 year old son still says that to this day and my 36 year old brother says the same to our mother :)

PS. I too have a little one entering kindergarten this Fall...it is my baby girl and I just break all of the rules with her because she is "the baby", however I do it not to keep her a baby but to just soak up the snuggles because I really do know how fast it goes....keep smiling and know you'll cry at first but you'll be fine, as will I :) Thanks for sharing

I know its hard sending them out into the big world, but your little guy will always love you!!! My son just turned 11 and he still likes to cuddle with me and tell me he loves me!! Don't worry mama, its good for them to be without us sometimes!! He'll be fine and so will you!!

My sons are still very little boy-ish and are starting Kindergarten in the fall also. I am so sad :( I feel like I will see them so much less. It is a transition, and it is hard! Hang in there....

I know how you feel, my son just turned 5, but he has been in day care since he was 3 months old. I have been fortunate enought to be home with him during the summers and love every minute of it. I have to work so I have no choice. He does have an older cousin and he has learned all about guns and chopping heads off from the things his cousin watches, and I hate it! he goes to a private school so he hasn't brought too many crazy things and sayings home but I tried my hardest to "keep him young" but it's hard. I can only control what we do at home, and what I let him watch on TV or movies. I know it's hard, but we need to let them be boys! Good luck

My son is almost 10. Most days he acts either 2 years old or 15 years old. During the day it's hard to get hugs but at bed time it's all about being with mommy. It really depends on your son's personality.

No worries. My youngest is nine and still comes in to hug me in the morning and tells me throughout the day that he loves me. He'll always be your little boy. It's not strange to want to be around your child. It was strange when my daughter went to school because I didn't know what she was doing all day long when I used to know what she was doing all the time. Time will go fast...always does when you have kids! My oldest will be a junior in high school this year! Where did that time go?! He'll act grown up in front of his friends but he'll always love you.