It seems like only yesterday I was breastfeeding, potty training, reading to them, and watching them learn to read for themselves.
Over the years we set rules: Don't climb the stairs without holding our hand; Don't leave the perimeter of our farm; Tell me where you're going, when you get there, who you're with.
And learned from our mistakes: Don't cross the street without an adult; Don't leave him alone with matches; and Be sure to apologize to your kids after yelling at them over something minor because your editor set an ungodly deadline and you feel like a failure all the way around.
There were times when I caught myself saying, When is he going to learn to feed himself? I can't wait for you to drive. You can have that when you can pay for it yourself.
But now that they're so independent, I ache to make him dinner, to spend more than a few hours at a time with her, to sit on the couch and watch "A Knight's Tale" or "Princess Bride" from start to finish with each of us reciting our favorite line. "It's called a lance!" "As you wish."
Now, they're graduating. Moving up, moving on and our home will never be the same again. No loose Lego pieces to impale our feet, no more animals to care for (except for the ones we already have and the ones I can't help but bring home), no overpowering scent of hair or body products, and no boys splayed out on the floor of the kitchen, catching me up on the gossip at school, as I happily make them a snack.
Graduating for them is an exciting, scary, promising endeavor. As it should be for me, I keep telling myself. Because now, I don't HAVE to take care of them, I GET to care about them.
I, too, graduate - from nursing to nurturing. Sure, I wish they could have stayed a certain age longer. You know, like if they could have stayed five-years-old for three years? But alas, that can't be. So, I guess, I'll go and grow with them.
I'll take mending that broken heart over that busted knee. I'll dole out the cash for fast food over slaving over a hot stove. I guess I'll take the "Good Morning" text over having to get them up for school, any day.
Yup, when you look at it that way, we're all graduating. Taking that next step in our lives.
Because no matter how old they get, they'll still need their mother (and father). I'm so thankful that I get to see them grow up, grow older, and truly see how my 'momming' has paid off.
So here's to my graduating seniors! Go on. Go off. Go take your place in this world...I'll be watching, cheering, and waiting for you to come "home".
And in our family, who knows where or what "home" will be, but as long as I am living, that home is me.
