Why does watching kids grow up make you feel so sad?

“It was such a familiar gesture we've performed so many times, and it absolutely wrecked me. All I could picture was this little tiny boy smiling at me while I got him ready for preschool. I'm still crying thinking about it.”source ↗

“He's such a wonderful young man, but I feel like I didn't appreciate all those days of his childhood with him enough.”source ↗

“I catch my self tearing up sometimes and yearn to hold him for the crazy, little thing he is right now. Anyone else? Help me it hurts but I love it.”source ↗

“I completely lost it. Deep sobbing. All these fun little projects that they loved to do when they were little, but they don’t want them anymore.”source ↗

“I don’t want you guys getting older…I don’t want to say why cuz it’s sad.”source ↗

“I don’t want you having any more birthdays cuz I don’t want you getting old cuz ppl in their 50s are more likely to get cancer.”source ↗

“I hope you’ll remember me, I’ll remember you. And in 100 years, maybe I’ll find your new house and we’ll be together again.”source ↗

“Mine just turned 25 and is living on the other side of the country. *sniff* I sometimes miss those years, especially around the holidays.”source ↗

“I never thought I’d miss those days this much.”source ↗

“My son is 22 years old and still lives at home. Sometimes he’ll make a face and he looks like he did when he was 5, and it’s all I can do to not cry all the water out of my body.”source ↗

“And now he's in school and I do not know what to do with myself.”source ↗

“I keep turning my head just to look at him and he's not there.”source ↗

“I'm finding myself in a weird place emotionally. I still like doing those little adventures. And yeah, I wish she could always be with us, but if we wait around for an opening in her schedule it might never happen. But then I'm a little sad she's not with us”source ↗

“how do you emotionally reconcile this transition from a kid to an adult? I'm so excited to watch who she is becoming but also sad about not spending nearly as much time with her.”source ↗

“I've been having a hard time as she grows up. Her 13th birthday milestone hit me harder than I expected and I just can't imagine my life without her.”source ↗

“I'm incredibly sad when I think about the upcoming years. She's only going to get more independent and then probably move far away and leave me.”source ↗

“every time I see a mom with a pram or an add for a swaddle or something I feel so sad that the baby part of my life is over.”source ↗

“will this feeling ever go away? Am I doomed to be sad every time I see a pampers add?”source ↗

“it like I’m getting rid of happiness itself. Like the door is forever closed on the adorable little versions of what my kids were. Huge sobs. Tearing up just writing this.”source ↗

“I get sad about our little girl growing up so quickly”source ↗

“I haven’t seen anyone talk about the complicated emotions/grief of leaving the first five years behind and transitioning to a new phase after so much relentless intensity.”source ↗

“I thought this would all be a PURE relief but it has unexpectedly made me so sad. I have cried uncontrollably for the last four days.”source ↗

“I just can’t stop replaying the last five years in my head and wondering if I could’ve done a better job.”source ↗

“It is very, very hard. Even knowing she went to the best school, her dream college, it doesn't give you a break. It is hard, let's leave it like that.”source ↗

“So I really struggle to "let go" sometimes and let him do things on his own. I am filled with all sorts of emotions (most of it is immense pride) but also a bit of sadness that soon he won't need me one day.”source ↗

“I am so so so proud of him every day. And yet, feel like I'm needed less and less every day.”source ↗

“I definitely have days when I miss the baby snuggles and calls for mamma to help.”source ↗

“I'm going through the same thing right now, it's really hard and I miss him.”source ↗

“Excited to purge stuff because space is limited, but it has been a bit emotional going through all the old toys, stuffed animals, school projects, art, etc.”source ↗

“my son just turned 7 and i cry every time i look at his baby pics. im so blessed to watch him grow but it does hurt🥹🥲”source ↗

“I only had this booger for 2 years so far, and looking at photos from half a year ago has me bawling.”source ↗

“I'm missing the tiny tiny baby time of my life and debating having a third because it's so cute and I love having kids so much!”source ↗

“I was sad when he entered the toddler phase. I also felt like the baby phase flew by.”source ↗

“There’s definitely a bittersweet feeling in raising them into people who you genuinely like being around - only for them to leave!!”source ↗

“It's hard to come to grips with the fact that they are getting older. My son is about to turn 7 and he's doing more and more every day. Little things that he used to need help with are no longer an issue for him and it kills me.”source ↗

“now I’m crying because my 6 year old is growing up so incredibly fast 😭😭😭😭😭”source ↗

“I didn't expect the flash bang memory of my little boy smiling up at me, but also still seeing him as he is now. Absolutely broke my heart.”source ↗

“I was surprised it lasted that long, and boy does it hurt now that it's over.”source ↗

“I'm so proud of who they're becoming, but I love the absolute peace of their sleeping faces.”source ↗

“I love the wonderful people they’ve become but I miss my babies.”source ↗