I loved raising little kids. Now that mine are 11 and 15, parenting is much more chill.

The author looks back fondly on her kids' childhood but also likes parenting older kids. Courtesy of Lindsay Karp I look back fondly on the time when my kids were little. However, now that they're 11 and 15, motherhood has changed. I like this version of being a parent, too. "I just want to hug you forever." As those words spilled from my 3-year-old's mouth, I wanted to stay in that moment for eternity. One day, he'll wake up and realize there's a whole world out there, I thought, and hugging me will be a memory from his childhood . Eight years later, I can still feel that hug. Every day, Apple rounds up featured photos of my past, throwing me back into the days of diaper changes and nighttime feeds.