A new era just began for me. Today. This morning.
I stepped outside to walk the dog this morning to be greeted by the sound of children heading off to the first day of school.
That’s when it hit me. My last child is grown.
I’ve always been a hands-on type of mom, so for twenty-two years I’ve taken my children to school on the first day. It started with my oldest daughter and became an instant tradition.
Twenty-two years of rushing through breakfast. Twenty-two years of agonizing over first-day-clothing, which always resulted in multiple clothing changes. Twenty-two years of backpack checks and lunches. And twenty-two years of tears, usually mine.
I’ll miss it, but at least I have the memories. Memories of angst, and memories of excitement.
My youngest begins college at the end of this month, but it’s not the same. She’ll head out to her first day of school from her dorm room. I won’t be a part of it.
The new era has indeed begun.