Well the graduation dust has settled here and I have a moment to pause and reflect on this important milestone. Of course, there were all the wonderful traditions of a graduation--the ceremony, the caps and gowns, the parties, but as I reflect my emotions are mixed. We had two graduations--one from high school and one from junior high. We said goodbye to schools, friends and much of our familiar routine. No school bus will stop at our house. No more knee socks and plaid skirts. I will have one less smiling (or grumpy) face at our table in the fall. My house will be quieter . . .a lot quieter. Even though these changes are part of life (and really a good thing), it is hard to say goodbye. I think we are ready. Life has presented our family with many changes and whether we were ready or not--we did just fine. We let go of car seats and high chairs, swings and bikes, crayons and cartoons. We moved on to all things digital, cars, dances and loud music. Time outs in a bedroom were not required, but requested. Life moved forward and I am not sure we paused long enough to realize how much it was changing.
As I put together photos for graduation books, I just kept asking myself--how did this go so quickly? It seemed like just yesterday, I had three babies. I wish I had savored each milestone just a little more. Birthdays, first steps, swimming with floaties, bike rides--I am so thankful that I have the pictures to remember most of it. I am sad that I don't remember others. . . the last bouquet of dandelions. . . the last time I pushed my kids on a swing. So many doors of their childhood have closed. I wish I was more aware when they were closing, so I could have held on to that moment. So while this graduation season has caused me to reflect, it has also caused me to be to make sure I embrace those milestone moments. I made sure that I captured this last bus ride. I waited for that last glimpse of yellow, I took the photo, but most of all I savored the moment. As we go forward, these graduations have reminded me to pause and enjoy each and every milestone. Off to the next open door. . .
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