I recently posted this on my Facebook page:
When it comes to parenting milestones, there's a lot of focus on the "firsts." Right now it is a lot of "lasts." This is the last year of the Cub Scouts for my last child. Today's the last Pinewood Derby with the last car that he made with his dad. In a couple weeks will be the last blue and gold dinner. And soon he will be finishing his last year in elementary school. My eighth-grader also has science fair today. The last science project for him and his last time in the science fair. And soon he'll finish his last day in junior high. And my last time of running back-and-forth from place to place with kids because they always fall on the same day. Bittersweet. But at a point it gets tiring and you are ready to move on to the next phase. Next year will be back to a year of "firsts."
We focus so much on those firsts and there's so much to celebrate about them. And then, POW! You're recognizing a "last" in your child's life. It's sad, but can be a relief. It can be both heart wrenching and exciting. But it is necessary. Necessary for them to move on and necessary for us to move on. But the firsts never stop coming. Neither do the lasts. Here's to an ending to one thing and a new beginning to another.
