Completely caught off guard, Abigail runs to me after Daddy brings her home from from vising her surrogate Grandmother and hands me a bright pink flier saying...
"Mommy, please read this important special paper", folding her hands in front of her in the prim-n-proper little way that she does.
It is an invite.... to her PreSchool Graduation Program.
Reading each line aloud, smiling yet crying more with each word... All I can think is,
How is this happening?! lol
She JUST STARTED PreK!
I was JUST sobbing uncontrollably in the hall as I watched her class get further and further away from me (after managing to hold it together until she couldn't see me anymore, of course) on her first day of school, clutching my wrist where we had drawn a smiley, peace sign and heart on ourselves so we could think of each other every time we looked at it on that momentous day.
It may have been nearly a year ago... but the days, hours, minutes.. where have they gone??
Somehow it all passed us right by, and now our baby girl who we brought home at just 4.5 pounds is graduating PreK and will be starting Kindergarten. :(
{....crying again....}
All of these tiny milestones keep creeping up on us, and no matter what they are, they grasp my heart and instantly remind me that these precious times are just that; Precious.
I cry now for the woman in me that will one day be as I sit on the bleachers on the day of her High School Graduation crying at the years that passed us by... wishing I was only crying at her PreK Graduation Day again, rather than getting her packed for college.
I cry now for the woman in her that she will one day be... Not because I don't want her to grow up, but because she must grow up.
She must face this world as a Woman, Adult & Individual.
And if we as parents {in general} are sure to remember exactly WHY we are living, working, breathing...
If we are sure to allow ourselves to FEEL and CRY in these times so that we are reminded to slow down and ENJOY our little ones during these precious years that we'll never get back ...
It is then that we can be sure to give them the quality kind of CARE, LOVE and ATTENTION that they need to one day face this world confidently, intentionally, thoughtfully and successfully.
These 5 years have gone by in a flash, and it is our promise to you, Abber-dabbers, that we'll be here for you at your every achievement/milestone, with smiles on our faces and with tears swelling in our eyes.
Mommy & Daddy loves you baby... And we're so very proud of you.
You're sweet, caring, creative, smart, loving, intuitive, polite and you love to learn.
What more could we ever expect of you. <3
Aw! I totally understand. My only daughter is turning 3 tomorrow and we just told her The Story of her Birth at dinner. I was a blubbering fool!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mondaysnugget.com/
LOL I can't tell anyone my birth stories for our kids without crying!
DeleteAww I completely understand! It all goes by so quickly. I try and remind myself every day to soak it up and enjoy ever moment cause it passes in an instant : )
ReplyDeleteYes it certainly does. It also reminds me to choose my battles and just let the little things slide because before we know it, we'll be wishing they were doing all those little things that sometimes drive us up the wall again. :)
DeleteI understand everything you feel about your little girl growing up. I personally can't get over how quickly my own kids are growing up. I miss my little boy being little. I still have a little one left, but once she's grown up that's it. I am eager for her to talk though (which seems to take my kids until they are 3 years old to do), but then I think about how close that will put her to PreK.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Firsts are hard for me.. 1st time away from my infants, 1st day of daycare, 1st day of PreK.. It's safe to say that our children adapt and handle the change MUCH better than we do!! That's definitely one thing I have learned through all of this. lol
DeleteI'm reading this as my 1 year old is sleeping beside me. I always find myself saying omg I can't believe a year has passed already since she was born! :( I know ill be just like you, the crying mama as I send my baby off to school!!
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is live in the moment. Each stage of their little lives is exciting and wonderful. :) Even if we feel like we're going to fall a part when they hit those milestones!!
DeleteTears! I'm reading this as my 1 year old is sleeping beside me and thinking of all this. I already did myself saying all the time omg I can't believe a year has past already!! It flew by. :(
ReplyDeleteI am at the far end of that journey. My oldest just finished his first year of college! His senior year of high school was filled with lots of "lasts" and quite a few firsts -- choosing his college home, scholarships, graduation... I cried -- a little. BUT mostly, I enjoyed glancing back at the moments that prepared him for this moment. We are super-close, and he attributes this largely to my willingness to let him go, step by step, and encouraging him confidently to become the wonderful young man he now is.
ReplyDeleteCry tears as you say good-bye to the past, but remember that you are doing your job! Do it well and learn to let go just a little bit each step along the way. One day she will grow up and move out, but it's quite possible that you'll love her more then than you can possibly imagine now.
I cannot tell you how beautiful your words are to me. Thank you. I read them twice! :) Thanks so much for coming by and for giving a piece of your heart. I'll remember you! <3
DeleteBRAVO!!! And then you'll become a grandma and start all over again...
ReplyDeleteAwww... I know the feeling! My oldest son graduated from High School last year. It felt like yesterday that I brought him home from the hospital. Thanks for sharing your experience with us @ My Favorite Posts SHOW OFF Weekend Blog Party!
ReplyDeleteJessica
The Wondering Brain
Oh dear, it's such mommy thing. You exactly sound like my mother. She cries everytime I get my enrollment for next class :)
ReplyDeleteOkay. Now I'M crying . . . I have my little girl's kindergarten grad picture hung up next to her high school graduation picture. And her wedding picture. Now we're almost ready to put HER little girl into kindergarten. And it all happened only a moment ago . . .
ReplyDeleteHi, I almost cried too. My daughter's class is having award day tomorrow. She is finishing fourth grade. I remember carrying her to her first day of 4k six years ago. Six years ago. Where did the time go. I have a cute picture of her from her preschool in a pretty old fashioned dress holding an old fashioned umbrella. She was so cute and pretty. :,,) Happy tears. I know it is hard to see the time melt away. Cherish every moment. Keep every mother's day present. Okay now I need a tissue.
ReplyDeleteI totally get this. I remember when Allie transitioned from daycare to preschool and then to public school for 1st grade. Each time it undid me. You are right, the time flies so quickly we have to pay attention
ReplyDeleteTrust me, as the years continue to fly by...as I sit and think about my big boy who will soon be moving out on his own...my lil man who's voice is cracking as he advances into his teen years...and finally to my lil miss who is growing into a beautiful young girl right before my very eyes. It is hard to watch and beautiful at the same time. :)
ReplyDelete