Recently, a friend commented on a day when she watched her preschool daughter in the backyard, swinging and singing and having the best time...
one of those sweet kodak moments.
My friend said, "Why am I crying."
Another friend has a senior in high school.
She said, "Is the senior year harder on the senior or the parent."
Answer to both....Ah, the parent.
It's a parent thing.
Our hearts belong to our children.
We swell with joy at the things they say and do.
At the same time, a sadness tugs at our hearts.
We know the moments are fleeting,
and they will soon be gone.
It doesn't seem that long ago that I was watching my little ones at play.
It doesn't seem that long ago that I had a senior getting ready to graduate.
It doesn't seem that long ago,
no, not at all.
I enjoyed every season of raising my children.
It's what parents do.
I thought about my last year as a senior's mom,
when the youngest of my five was a senior.
It was the final chapter in my-kids-are- at- home book of fulltime mom-hood.
What was I going to do.
I'm a crier. My kids will tell you it's true.
I cried their first day of kindergarten,
at programs and games,
at every graduation.
I knew I was going to cry his whole senior year.
I was going to be a soggy mess.
It was the last, 'first' football game.
I sat in my mom mobile, praying.
God. I can't do this.
I don't know how I'm going to get through this senior year.
I took a deep breath.
I straightened my pride button with my son's picture.
I had all my paraphenalia for the game.
I was going to make my way to our reserved seats.
Then,a song on the radio caught my attention.
"Turn up the music! Turn it up loud. Take a few chances, let it all out.
Because you won't regret it, looking backfrom where you have been.
Because it's not who you know and it's not what you did, it's how you live.
So go to the ball games, go to the ballet.....
Kiss all your children.....
Don't run from the truth, cause you can't get away.
Just face it and you'll be ok."
("How You Live," by Point of Grace).
'Silly, maybe, but that song spoke to me, and
it seemed that year,
any time I felt a little blue, as moms letting go
sometimes do,
that song was on the radio.
I turned up the music of my life. I turned it up loud!
I didn't want to have regrets.
I went to those games and enjoyed watching my son.
I sat through programs and awards night, and enjoyed every minute.
I enjoyed my son's senior year.
I'm sure I cried.
But, I smiled, and laughed a lot, too.
I reminded myself to live the life!
I understand my mom friends and where they are in life.
It's sweet...kind of sad...but it's what parenting is about.
Enjoy each moment, because, yes, it all goes way too fast.
My nest is empty now. (by the way, the picture for this blog...my son is number 12).
Yet, there are still times I get that nudge to
Turn up the music of life....loud!
So, I do.
I may call one of my kids or visit a friend.
I may dance while I clean, or dance with the dog.
It's not who we know or what we do,
it's how we live.
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