I have never cried over sending my kids to school. I want my kids to be independent, rational thinkers that will one day leave my house. But, now my oldest is a senior. Watching him prepare to leave for school for his last first day of secondary education this week, brought tears that even my analytical side couldn’t stop. Yes, future success requires that he leave our home to find his own way. But, holy crap, why did he have to grow up so fast?

What’s worse, I remember how adult I thought I was as a senior all those years ago. Looking back from this vantage point, I now realize how immature I really was. And my son isn’t any better in that department. Yet, here we are, careening toward graduation. The thought makes it hard for me to breathe, but I still won’t delay the inevitable when it finally comes. Life is a hard teacher, but sometimes there is no other way to gain understanding than by experience. I only hope when he does finally leave, I’ll have filled him with enough knowledge to avoid some of life’s pitfalls. Fingers crossed.