I knew this day would eventually come, but I didn’t know how quickly it would sneak up. I’m not quite sure if I’m ready for it or, how I’m going to handle this next year. The entire summer, I have been in a state of denial that this whole milestone high school year was actually happening.
Then, a few weeks ago, I started having this familiar, uneasy feeling. It was a gut-wrenching, sick-to-my-stomach feeling. The kind of feeling you have when something is about to change your life. I now officially have two high school students in my home. I am not sure how this happened or when. It seems like just yesterday I had a kindergartner and 3rd grader.
Senior Year
Today my first born enters his last chapter of high school on this first day as a senior. This is also the last time he will walk into classroom and see the childhood friends he meet in kindergarten. This is also the last year that he will kiss me good bye on his first day of school and the last year he will come home and tell me all about his classes and teachers. My wish for him is that he will enjoy every moment. I want him to live in the present and not look so far ahead that he forgets to appreciate how special this year is.
Freshman Year
Today my baby starts high school, it feels like just yesterday, I was holding his hand, walking him into kindergarten. The little boy so full of curiosity has, in the blink of an eye, turned into a handsome young man and ready for high school. With the start of freshman year comes the realization that just a fast as I can blink it will be senior year.
It went by so quickly! I thought it was all good. I thought I was not affected by this moving up in grades. Then I realized that this is the beginning of the last year that I will have both of my sons living with me.
This will be the last time all three of us will go out to dinner the eve before school starts. This will be the last year that we will celebrate every holiday together. This is the last year of so many things that we do together.
As exciting as it is for my sons, and me, that this high school year has begun….it also puts into motion an end sequence. We are now beginning and ending. With the start of this school year comes the realization that soon life as we know it will forever change.
To other moms and dads starting this final school milestone year, hang in there! Smile a lot and laugh with your kids. Let some things slide and get stricter on others. Spend as much time together as possible and truly live in the moment.
I will proudly be watching with excitement and sadness as this last chapter unfolds, with boxes of tissues by my side and pleasantly relishing the bitter sweet moments of these last firsts.
The saying “they grow up so fast” is truly an understatement.
Roxanne
This is such a sweet post! Good luck with this milestone year 🙂
Denea
Freshman year of high school or college is always so amazing because everything is so new. I loved that feeling and when you hit your senior year you are over it and ready to get out!
Portia
What a sweet post! My oldest enters first grade this year and I fear how fast time flies!
Bianca Jenson
Portia,
The early school years are a lot of Fun!
Amanda
Awe!!! I have 2 the exact same ages apart except mine are Junior and 8th grader so this will be me next year! I can’t imagine how hard this is. I already get sad thinking about it!
Heather
My kids are 8, 6, and 22 months, but this year has seemed to fly by. I can’t believe we are almost at Labor Day already. I am trying not to think too far into the future because it makes me all weepy! Good luck to your kiddos this year!
Cynthia
Hang in there mom and enjoy all the things that senior year will bring! Sending my youngest to boot camp after high school tore my heart out!
Bianca Jenson
Cynthia,
Boot camp right after senior year, would be extremely difficult on a Mom. Many thanks to your son for serving this great country of ours.
Michelle
My oldest started high school and my youngest started Kindergarten a couple weeks ago….definitely bittersweet, to say the least.
Carolyn
This is so bittersweet and I know it will happen in a blink of an eye for me too. My kids are in Pre-K and 3rd grade so the days are long but the years are short is such a true statement.
Terri Steffes
Oh gosh! I so remember when my daughter was a senior, 12 years ago~! Such a wonderful year full of special events and moments. Enjoy each one!
Michelle
My oldest left high school at the end of his sophomore year to start college early. Not only did he leave at 16 but went half way across the United States to do it. It was a very hard time for us but a great time for him and he met some of his best friends there.
You will not only make it through this time you will embrace it and he will too. My youngest graduated in 2014 and it was a hard time for sure.
Enjoy your time with him. It is a great time in life.
Bianca Jenson
Michelle,
I will definitely try to live in the moment and enjoy his senior year.
Taylor Mobley
Awww, this is so sad but also happy! I remember when I went off to college all those years ago..now my baby sis is almost a senior! How did that happen??
Bianca Jenson
Taylor,
You are right he is very happy that this is his senior year!
Kecia
My older is just starting Kindergarten next month, so I have a long way to go before high school. Still, we are having our own milestone year here. I am a little sad that he’s going to “big kid” school (he was in Pre-K last year), but I’m happy to watch him grow into such a smart, amazing young man!