A Return To Childhood...But I Know Why

Recently I've noticed an odd phenomenon with both of my boys.  They seem to have regressed back to their tween years.  Their attitudes and behavior haven't changed, thankfully.  No pre-teen angst or sulking.  But there's definitely something weird going on....

Exhibit A.  My almost twenty year old son announced this weekend that he wanted a fish aquarium for his room.  Um....okay.  We haven't had a fish in the house for at least ten years.  For us, fish were a "starter" pet before the boys moved on to fire belly toads and hamsters.  I have to say, Fred and the Three Oscars (yes, he named them himself) are kind of calming to watch as they swim around their new home.

It was very hard to get them all to hold still for a picture.

Exhibit B.  Guitar Hero on the Wii, as opposed to the XBox Zombie/Halo games that they've been playing for the last few years.  In recent weeks, T has recruited all of his friends for epic Guitar Hero battles.  I think the guitars had an inch thick layer of dust on them when they were pulled from the game cabinet, but no matter!  Friday nights now sound like jam sessions instead of a war zone.

Exhibit C.  Goldfish crackers.  These were pretty much a food group in our house when the boys were growing up, but I hadn't purchased them in years. On a whim, I grabbed some on my last trip to the store.  It was like I brought home the golden ticket!  Such excitement over crackers.  Guess I don't need to figure out what to get them for birthdays anymore.

Exhibit D, which is the greatest of them all.  C and T are really interested in hanging out with mom and dad.  On Sunday mornings they mosey into the kitchen and ask what the plan is for the day.  What, you mean with us?

I have a thought about all this regression, although I'm sure the boys would deny my theory.  There are precious few months (eighteen, to be exact - yes, I'm counting) left until they both move out and onto the next stage of their lives.  I don't even want to think about it, but they have.  

And although they're excited and ready to get on with it, a part of them is scared and nervous about the journey ahead.  So fish as pets, Guitar Hero, goldfish crackers and hanging out with mom and dad sound pretty good right now.

I'm not complaining.