by BabyCenter Guest Blogger posted in Parenting

By Chelsea Day
This boy is actually my second-youngest kid, but he's my baby. He's the one who crawls into my bed in the middle of the night, the one who clings a little harder during movies. Even while our 1-year-old runs circles around me, our 3-year-old requires a bit of additional encouragement. I'll admit that his quirky, clingy personality stems from the fact that he was raised differently than the rest.
My parenting confidence took a hit when this dude was hospitalized at just 6 weeks old for a severe respiratory infection that almost took his life. After that experience, I gripped onto his baby phase with all the impassioned strength that mothers are known for. I relished it, and I didn't push him at all. l let him do every single thing in his own sweet, slow time, and he was fine. He is fine. But now I?m struggling as I realize that he?s outgrowing the limits of my arms. I can?t hover over every moment of his life. He is a strong child who is worthy of independence.
I awkwardly notice our interactions with other moms at birthday parties and playdates. I?ll be filling up my kid's sippy cup and then look around at the pouches with straws and realize out loud, "Oh, he?s way past sippy cup age, isn?t he""
Most of the moms in my group are used to my little dude and familiar with what he's been through. They also know that he was born in that awkward November season where kids just barely make the cutoff en...