I was doing so well sending the kids off to school this morning. Everyone woke up at a reasonable hour (meaning, no one refused to wake up), everyone ate a good breakfast and got dressed in clean clothes. Hair was brushed. Shoes were put on. Pictures were taken.
And then, I got a text message. KitKat, my ninth grader, had forgotten her lunch at home. I needed to go out for milk and bread and notebook paper, anyway. So I dropped by the high school on my way to Walmart. While I sat at the light across from her school, I watching dozens and dozens of big kids – mini adults – strolling across the street, back to school. I drove through the drop-off circle, and KitKat reached in the car for the lunch, said “Thanks” and was quickly lost again in the sea of teenagers.
I drove away and my hands started to shake. A lump formed somewhere between my throat and my chest, and I had the urge to pull over and just watch the school. See if I could spot my little girl again.
She’s not a little girl anymore. How did this curly-haired princess…..
…..become this?
I’ve taken this new adventure in stride. I knew it was coming. I knew she was going to high school. I knew that she could handle it. And yet something inside ME couldn’t handle seeing her in the middle of all of those teenagers. It hit me as I drove away today that in just a few short years, I’d be dropping her off at a much bigger school, most likely much farther away. I thought about my own years of high school. My first kiss. Friends that meant the world to me making crazy decisions that shocked even me. The language. The topics of conversation. The college preparation.
I held the tears in, but just barely.
Sending my baby boy off to kindergarten today was nothing. Seeing my oldest baby at high school nearly put me over the edge.
Where did the time go?!
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My oldest starts high school this year- blows my mind!
Oh, just reading this almost made me cry! My little man goes off to Kindergarten on Tuesday. In the blink of an eye it will be HS. It’s so bittersweet to see them grow…
KitKat I’d such a beautiful young woman! I can’t imagine how you feel. My son isn’t school age yet, but I’m already dreading the first day.
I love the scrapbook affect on the pics. Very cool.
Wow…I know that feeling. Beautiful young lady! My daughter went to college last year and it broke my heart when I had to leave the dorm! I thought this year would be better but no such luck..it was just as hard. My son leaves for college next year, not sure how I will handle being an empty nester! Guess it’s one of the hardest things a mom has to do, letting go! Enjoy these next few years…they seem to fly by faster somehow when they are this age!
Ahh! I know what you mean!!!
I just left my oldest at college a week ago, and I can’t even begin to describe the empty, forlorned feeling I have in my heart. I know I should be proud, but I’m so mad at the same time.
I hear ya. I get to spend all kinds of time at my youngest’s school. I don’t get to see her but I still feel like I am contributing to her life. My oldest? She just got her first apartment. I helped her set up her cabinets in Her kitchen and put away food in Her pantry. That was two weeks ago and I haven’t seen her since. Now, she has called and texted but it isn’t the same.
I’m not there yet …but how is it waking up for seminary since she is high school. How are you coping ?
I heard ted from open sky talk at BBC SF..noticed your shop.
I’m feeling the same way, and it’s not high school, it’s junior high, and I KNOW it will be different with girls. Still. Where DID that time go?
Your new highschooler by the way? A beauty.
She really is a great young woman. Honestly, I’m enjoying her now more than I have in a few years. ;) 4-6 grade was kind of rough, and it has slowly gotten better. But really….high school? How can this be?
Oh my goodness this might get me too I can’t imagine that almost grown up time where they disappear into teenagers and then I remember high school! I totally get being more upset and nostalgic at watching your big girl! HShe looks like a wonderful young woman!