How To Tell If Your Kids Are Growing Up

Four examples of growth and maturity as exemplified in the Barber home:

1. Having taught them to always appreciate the meals prepared for them by others, they are very inventive at letting me know they don't care for what I cook for them.
Jared - became a complete vegan, prepares his own meals.
Jacob - eats EVERYTHING I cook now that he has his own apartment.
Brandon - doesn't eat it.. then rustles up something later in the kitchen
Sophia - "Mom, I really like your chicken noodle soup better than this."
Justin - "Do I have to eat this?"
Nico - "I'm just not hungry."
Zoe - "Waaa, waaaa, waaaaaaaa!" ("I want pears instead!")

2. A requirement of living here is that you work... get a job, do chores, be of service to others... do something.
Jared - does home improvement jobs for 14 hours a day, and spends at least 10 hours a week helping at church, no time for chores at home.
Jacob - moved out, cleans his apartment when he knows I'm coming for a visit.
Brandon - in dorm, work study job and outside job.
Sophia - will help anyone clean house, even me, as long as its not her assigned chores. LOVES to help at church.
Justin - "I have chores?"
Nico - "Could I take a day off?"
Zoe - "Waaa, waaaa, waaaaaaa!" ("I have insufficient motor control.")

3. I'm a hugger. I really like to love on my kids.
Jared - "Are you kidding? I'm 23 years old."
Jacob - "Side hugs only. I love you, Mom, but jeez."
Brandon - "Seriously, stop it. My friends are looking."
Sophia - "OK, but I'd rather hug Dad."
Justin - "I love it when you hug me, but I'm not willing to shower or use deodorant except under duress."
Nico - "Hug away, but DO NOT kiss me in public."
Zoe - "Waaa, waaaa, waaaaaa!" ("Hug and kiss me more.")

4. Milestones that are really all about me.
Jared - is 23... proof that I am old enough to have a 23 year old son.
Jacob - is in his own apartment... proof that I am getting old.
Brandon - doesn't want to need me... proof that he thinks I am old.
Sophia - only needs me to do things her way... proof that I am too old to be in public.
Justin - needs for me to get off his back... proof that I am old-fashioned.
Nico - needs for me to be his Mom, not his Mommy... proof that my boy is going to grow up.
Zoe - waaa, waaaa, waaaaaa... proof that I still have most of her milestones ahead of me.

See, when you have seven kids, you get the full spectrum all on the same day!