For all of you wiping tears over the fact your babies are growing up, I have news for ya. They'll always be your babies. I've just spent the afternoon watching my 19-year-old play "war" outside with a couple buddies and their airsoft guns.

I hate guns. I'm a vegetarian. But we live in a pseudo-country environment where it's not terribly uncommon for a kid to own a real hunting gun. Anyway, when he was 13 all he wanted for his 14th birthday was an airsoft. He talked non-stop about it for a year until he finally saved up and bought it himself with his own money. I caved. For those of you who don't know what an airsoft gun is, they shoot hollow plastic pellets of air. It's just enough to give you a good sting when hit, but not enough to maim. Still I put my foot down. The rule around here is they have to wear goggles. So he's been out there with his goggles shooting at his begoggled friends all afternoon. Their "gun" paraphernalia is spread all over the living room, and it looks like a group of terrorists live here. I guess I'm the only mom in the neighborhood who'll put up with the noise. There are advantages to having a deaf mom.

He only moved home for the summer a couple weeks ago. To make room for some of his college gear, we had to condense the huge plastic bin of legos he had in his bedroom closet. Though he played with them over Christmas break *with a girl!--during a date!!* he finally conceded they could go in the garage for storage.

Up until today he had an action figure decorating his windowsill-- a red ape with green hair. He put that in his closet right next to "Blue Bear"-- a small six-inch stuffed light blue bear he's had since he was a newborn. He hasn't given Blue Bear up completely, but they don't sleep together anymore.

Yeah-- we talk politics and he can run errands picking up stuff at the grocery store, and he's planning to barbecue dinner tonight. He's big help-- but grown-up??? Good Lord. . .!