They say it happens in the blink of an eye.
I don’t think I agree.
As my daughter wraps up her last year of elementary school, I don’t feel like it has been some whirlwind that has led us here. Sure, part of me feels like just yesterday I was tearing up in the parking lot after leaving her on her first day of kindergarten. I still remember it so well. Now here I am tearing up as I think about how much she has grown over these past six years of school. As the memories flood in, I know that it was not yesterday but that it really has been years in the making that brought us to this next milestone in her life.
My daughter is one of many that lived through schooling via zoom in her early elementary years. When we all learned what asynchronous is versus synchronous. When I had to often take it no more than one day at a time and even that felt overwhelming as I juggled working full time with two kids schooling at home. That year and a half of online school was nothing any of us could have planned for. We made it through. But not in the blink of an eye; at least not for me.
When my son graduated elementary school, we were still somewhat masked up living in a pandemic world. We were able to have a fifth-grade party and fifth-grade camp whereas the class before him was not. I remember feel lucky that he got to experience that. I also remember that probably half the class ended up with Covid-19 after the party. Glad the days of that pandemic are behind us. It really was crazy times.
As our kids hit milestones, so do we. I often tell my 13-year-old that while he is navigating teen hood, I am navigating being a mom of a teen. We grow with our kids in that way. Each phase has unique needs, problems and learning curves. For both the kids and parents.
My daughter graduating fifth grade is equally as exciting and important as when my son did. But it also hits me a little bit harder. She is my youngest. I don’t have another one still in elementary school like I did when my son was her age. This is it.
Her graduating elementary school means we as a family say goodbye to this chapter.
The summer that my son was going into middle school, I was nervous thinking about the unknown ahead. My friends who have their oldest going into middle school are filled with the same anxiety I was. I am trying to assure them it will all be ok. I actually can’t believe how cool, calm and collected I am at the thought of my baby girl starting middle school. I feel like I know the school, many of the teachers and administrators and I know that there will be ups and downs but I am prepared for all of it. She seems ready.
Despite feeling like I am not filled with nerves and that my daughter is ready; it still very much feels like a big milestone for our family.
Gone are days of one main teacher; we move onto six.
Gone are the days fun runs and jump rope for the heart; fund raisers look different for our middle school.
Gone are the days of constant needs from the school for volunteers; those requests are much more few and far between in middle school.
Gone are the days of knowing almost all of the kids and parents; middle school means a larger pond of people, many new faces and names and more independence as the kids form new relationships.
Gone are the days of being involved in basically everything; middle school requires trust and for the kids to really navigate their way. They are building their way to be ready for high school and for the world.
But with saying goodbye to many of those things comes exciting times ahead. My heart aches a little but also fills when I think about my baby and how she is now here ready for this new chapter.
It didn’t come in the blink of an eye when I think about the past six years and all the growing up my daughter has done to now be prepared for what is next. But wow it does seem incredible how we are here now. So many memories behind and so many ahead. When those memories flood, it does all seem like it has happened fast but there has also been a lot that has happened.
Mom, if you are in this place of welcoming a new chapter, it’s ok to cry a little, to mourn a little. It doesn’t mean we are not incredibly proud and excited.
Goodbye elementary school days, it really has been such a gift.
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Read more of Stephanie’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
