I always miss the kids

I've always been a big fan of children. I know this sounds like I'm lying, cause sometimes I really dislike children. But I've always liked my friend's children.
And so many of my friends have come and gone, and I sit and wonder how their children are doing often. How my old friends themselves are doing sometimes, but sometimes friendships don't work for a reason, so I try really hard not to get too melancholy about it.
I keep coming back to the kids...like I wonder how Eric is doing (Larry's kid) or how Mina (Paul's daughter) is doing (how many times did Derek call people Mina? He just didn't understand why she was gone when she left...and I don't really get any sort of response when I ask about her, so I stopped. It just makes me sad, I had a totally awesome conversation with her one night about barbies and dragons, and all sorts of things), or how Birdie is doing (besides what I read in blog form).
I always thought that Val's little girl Katie was adorable, and Tyler was smart and ready to screw me up, cause he could actually read all the naughty stickers I used to have up in my bedroom. Sadly, she moved away, and it's not that I don't keep in touch, though I'm not as good about it as I should be, but we don't see each other, and seeing people's kids in pictures (while lovely) do not give you the same feeling as interacting with that child.
It makes me sad. For some reason or another I don't see these people anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't miss these special kids that I took the time to get to know at least a little bit.
I'm not stupid, I know that Mina probably has no idea who I am, nor does Eric. Birdie does still, but it won't be long before she won't even remember me. =S
Katie and Tyler? I really don't know. Maybe they remember me.
It just makes me sad. Is it all totally pointless? I don't want to make friends with people's kids only to not see them anymore.
And I wonder (and maybe even hope a little) that they miss my son. That they cared enough to miss my son. Maybe this is too arrogant of me, cause I'm sure some people might actually breathe a sigh of relief when they don't have to deal with my complicated child anymore. =S Makes me sad, but how can I complain? Sometimes I don't even want to deal with him.
It makes it all the more special when I see how much Ben and Jesse care for my kid. Neither of them are really "kid people" yet they are nice to him, talk to him, treat him like a person, and Ben...well, Ben goes above and beyond. I honestly think at this point that if Ben and I ever were to break up, Ben would still want and need that contact with Derek that he's had on a daily level for almost seven years now. The contact that he's had in some form or another since Derek was born.
So I suppose while I sit here and whine about missing other people's kids, I should also share the good stories and remember that it's not ALL the kids I meet that I miss. For instance? Josh, I've known Josh for awhile now and it's really something else to see how tall he is, how smart he is, how funny he is even becoming. A sense of humor is such a good thing to have. Natalli as well, I've known her since she was a baby. Since she was inside her mother's stomach and I really like her. She likes to give hugs and hugs are not something I get from Derek often enough lately. She's always polite and almost shy around me. =) I adore Tammy's children.
And Kiesha, who I've not known as long as Josh or Natalli, she reminds me so much of Derek in different ways. Not like she's a mini-Derek or anything, but she has so much energy and she's so outgoing when I come over to visit. Orion? Well, he is getting so big and so strong (like he wasn't before LOL) and starting to look like such a little kid instead of "toddler".
And Mina (Ariel's daughter), well it's been very, very interesting to watch her turn into such a mini adult. She's quiet mostly, and I believe that she was just as exasperated as us adults were by Derek's excessive excitement.
She used to, well I won't say that she used to get as excited as him, cause that's a hard thing to do indeed, but she would like the idea of playing Sega with him or something to that effect.
This time she seemed fairly uninterested in Derek, but it was very good to see her, and she had fun, I hope.
Other kids? There are more, I know there are. I'm not getting names running through my head, but every time I check out my old photo albums, I feel a bit wistful and sad.
Am I the only person who this happens to? Anyone else have a story they'd like to share? Anyone miss my kid and want to share with me? Cause unless you are a huge asshole, I will do my best to have him visit, even if only a park date visit. If you'd like to see my kid, I'd like to accommodate you, even if you dislike me. I can't promise I wouldn't be there, but you wouldn't have to talk to me.