It’s that time of year again—graduation season has arrived! Kids of all ages are sporting their caps and gowns as they transition from preschool to high school and beyond. This moment is particularly poignant for me, as my eldest, Jake, is graduating from high school. I’ve been warned about the tidal wave of emotions I should expect, how I might yearn for the days when he was just a tiny first grader instead of a towering senior. But honestly? I’m just not feeling it.
I’ve watched the old kindergarten videos, flipped through second-grade report cards filled with sweet notes from teachers, and unearthed long-forgotten baby pictures and Mother’s Day cards from years past. Yet, strangely, none of these reminders have tugged at my heartstrings. What’s the matter with me, you might wonder? I think I’ve figured it out.
Every year, a certain poem makes the rounds online, capturing the bittersweet essence of parenting. It highlights the “lasts” we experience with our children, and it’s definitely a tearjerker. Some of its lines hit home:
- One day, you’ll carry them on your hip and then never do that again.
- They’ll hold your hand to cross the street, and then they’ll stop reaching for it.
- There will come a time when they run to you with open arms for the last time.
While I can appreciate the sentiment, right now, I’m more focused on ushering this 6-foot-1, snack-devouring, sock-leaving, smelly young man out of my house and into his exciting future. In fact, I’ve got my own “lasts” to consider:
From the moment your child enters puberty, everything changes. You may find yourself longing for the days when entering their room didn’t require a gas mask—those days are long gone, along with their willingness to listen to anything you say.
These are the final days of receiving phone calls from school notifying you that your angel has left campus without permission. And on his way out, he might just execute a perfect Dukes of Hazzard spinout, only to inadvertently clip someone’s bumper and take out a light pole.
These are the last days when his room is filled not with toys but with every piece of flatware you own, mixed in with a collection of bowls and cups that have seen better days. But remember, this chaos won’t last forever.
Soon enough, you’ll log into iTunes and not see a $107 bill for an NCAA Basketball app or a playlist of questionable songs. There will come a day when you won’t witness your 18-year-old golf enthusiast accidentally sending a golf ball into the neighbor’s window. You’ll no longer have to ask him to empty the dishwasher only to find measuring cups in the skillet.
And there will be that glorious last day when he packs up all his worn-out underwear, moldy towels, and an alarming number of empty deodorant cans he thinks are still functional but aren’t, and walks out the door. That will be the day you’ll hear the last screech of his car as it leaves the driveway. Except, let’s be real—don’t get too comfy with the idea of no more laundry or heating up pizza rolls for that creature. The thought of leaving for good is likely the last thing on his mind.
So forgive me for not feeling nostalgic or melancholic. He’s ready. He knows how to find food and utensils, he can pack his belongings, and he’s aware of basic hygiene tools. And I’m confident he knows how to find his way home—hopefully not for the last time.
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In summary, while graduation season brings a mix of emotions for many, I’m ready to embrace this next chapter without any sadness. It’s all about preparing our kids to take flight, and I’m here for it.
Keyphrase: graduation season
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