Last Day of School!

The last day of school officially arrived! The kids were dressed in chapel clothes, their hands and faces were washed, their hair was meticulously combed, and the sound of birds singing could be heard outside as we went about our morning routine one last time.

Not so with many other days this year. There were days...I'm ashamed to say...that I nearly kicked them out the door and onto the bus because they were fighting with each other, wouldn't eat what I served for breakfast, or had neglected to do homework the night before and added stress to the morning by doing it then. Oh many days it wasn't pretty...and I wasn't pretty...as I stood there in my nightgown, with no bra on, hollering out the door, "Do you have your lunch?", "Did you remember your folder?", "John put your glasses in the case when you're not wearing them!", "Katelyn you dropped your notebook!", "Julie keep your dress down", "Don't play with the windows on the bus!", and my favorite..."John turn your pants around when you get to school!...Did you hear me?...Your pants are on backwards...turn them around at school!"

The end of every school year is bittersweet for me. I stroll down memory lane and remember when the school year started and how excited they were to wear the new clothes (although many were used from Goodwill or families who donated to us), the new shoes, everything down to even their underwear, socks, and school supplies are new and refreshed.

On the first day of school they hurry to the bus with smiles and excitement because they have a clean slate...a new beginning, a fresh start....kind of like a "do over".

Little do they know that after the bus pulls away that first day, I retreat to my messy kitchen and cry. I cry because summer is over...extra time with them is over...and they are a year older with one less summer to explore and enjoy during their childhood years. I know it sounds sappy but I guess I am just a sappy kind of mom and I know when it's over...it's over....School years can get "do overs" and "clean slates"....With parenting, when kids are finally grown and out of the house....there are no "do overs". It's simply over and you hope to have made the most of all of the time you had together. You hope they saw the best of you, forget the worst of you, and especially remember how much they meant to you....always.

As this school year ends and they hop on the bus one last time, I can't help but notice they're all a little taller, they have each outgrown at least one pair of shoes, and have managed decimated most of their folders, art supplies, and lunch boxes. However, in the midst rubble and destroyed school supplies, I am excited to see the beautiful "grown ups" they're becoming. As sad as I am to see them change...the change is for the best. Afterall...life must move forward.

Just like other years....As the bus pulled away this pretty June morning I retreated to our messy kitchen and cried. I strolled down memory lane visiting Julia's pumpkin farm field trip, John's zoo field trip, Katelyn's volleyball and track meets, Kristin's flute concerts, Christmas concerts, the spring concerts, and all of the many busy yet wonderful events that filled our family calendar...My last visit, however, was to the first day of school - where it all began. I remembered four happy faces with smaller hands and smaller feet and then I smiled......because they're still mine!