My YF is growing up.

Boy is he growing up!

Overnight it seems he's shot up, his voice has deepened, his legs have gotten all hairy and he's starting to get that awkward manner of middle teens.

The boy I fell for is rapidly being transformed into the young man he was ever destined to become.

The process is really messing with my head.
This is the first time I've had a YF grow up on me. In the past all my YFs were separated from me before they went through the teen years.

I find myself just as much in love with him as ever. That hasn't changed one jot. Our friendship is better than it's ever been. We are closer and more connected and really enjoying each other's company (time will do that to any healthy relationship). His rents are trusting me now and my wife is accepting him being around in our life so everything seems positive.

Yet I find myself grieving.
I find myself watching him grow with this sense of deep loss.
I'm watching something in him that I value so much just vanish away.
More than ever, I feel confident in the real bond between us. I know that my love for him transcends the fact that he was an adorable boy in every way; that I can and will love him on into his adult years. And I feel very good about that.
Yet here I am... pinning... remembering the lost cuteness, the high squeeky voice, the playfulness, the boyishness, and I'm dreading the day when I'll finally look at him and have to admit that he's just not a boy any more.

Blessings
Cat.