Someone said this to me the other day, “All we get is eighteen summers with them.” That hit me like a ton of bricks. I never thought about it in those terms. I am very aware that my daughter is ending her junior year of high school and her brother is ending his eighth grade year. I know that the time I have with them home is going to be less and less. This is what we prepare for their whole life – the time that we will no longer be with them and want them to be able to go out and succeed on their own.
But, eighteen summers? It sounds so short.
My daughter turned 17 this past week. We held a birthday party with her dance friends last night at a trampoline park. They had a special glow night where they turn out the lights and put on black lights. The girls all seemed to have fun jumping, dancing, and singing. But, as I sat there I realized this was probably her last real birthday party we would throw for her. Next year it will be a graduation party. It made me a bit sad. But, at the same time I look at her and know she is just about ready to go. Each day I see a new maturity that wasn’t there before in how she handles situations at work, school, teaching, and volunteering. This next year she will be taking college and high school classes for dual enrollment and we hope this will show us just how ready she really is for college.
So, I will enjoy this summer, Purposefully (my chosen word for this year) with my children. We will laugh, cry and make memories as we always have but my eye will be a bit more on the clock and calendar as I see the days fading away….
What's for Dinner Moms? 
It’s bittersweet watching our babies grow. My oldest will be going into middle school next year and it’s surreal to me. I don’t know how I’ll handle having a 17 year old who’s about to leave the nest. My nephew is graduation in June and I can’t even handle that ❤️
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Bittersweet is the perfect word. Thank you!
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You’re very welcome! ❤️
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Omg that just hit me!
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Yes! And purposefully. Happy Summer!!
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Have two- one 23- back home after graduation, looking for opportunities and one 18 soon moving to college.
I love change. The time we get with them might be less but we will have time for ourselves perhaps and we can rest assured that they can handle lives themselves.
Susie
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Thank you for the encouragement.
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As I prepare for my son to move away I can feel your words very deeply. I talked and talked and encouraged and insisted he stay in school, try his hardest and now he is leaving! He has a great job, worked so hard and now he is a bit nervous to leave and be so far away, and of course I keep telling him, Oh no it will be fine, this is the next exciting chapter in your life, exciting! But, Inside I cannot imagine him, my little baby, not being just downstairs! You captured these feelings so well Marci, we prepare them and want the very best for them and then it is reality! A mother’s love is unending. xoxoxo
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Thank you, Lynn. Hugs to you and your son. Someone told me things get easier as they get older. I don’t think so they are different problems but what I would give for the days when a hug or a bandaid would make everything all right and I wasn’t thinking of the bigger stakes ahead.
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You’ll get a couple extra summers as they make their way through college. But there may be international opportunities, and there will likely be internships. My youngest is in NYC following her dream of being a pastry chef. My eldest is going to her last internship before going on to graduate school, and then to build a career. It leaves a large, gaping wound in your heart, but the pride you feel for what they are accomplishing, and the people they are becoming fills that aching void to a degree. Enjoy the heck out of this time!
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Thank you! I plan on it!
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I saw something about 18 summers recently, too. It caught my breath. It really does go by so fast, doesn’t it? She is beautiful, by the way. Bet, you are so proud of her.
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Thank you so very much! I am very proud of my kids.
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It’s easy to see!
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Happy Birthday to your daughter. Time flies huh? 18 summers.
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It certainly does.
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My oldest went away to college at 17. I felt a bit cheated out of that last year, but as lucky would have it he came every summer to work, and every Holiday.
So, it’s not completely the end. She has so many exciting adventures, and things coming her way. Senior year, and being 18. FINALLY! This year holds so much promise! 🙂
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Thank you. She is doing dual enrollment next year so she can finish high school and start a couple college classes. I like that the transition will be gradual. (More for me than her.) 🙂
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you said, “(More for me than her.) ” Isn’t that the truth! I’ve always needed my kids more than they’ve needed me. 🙂
Thankfully my daughter is nearly 8 yrs younger than my oldest so I still had one at home full time. That helped a lot! I can’t imagine losing both my kids to colleges out of state one right after the other!
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I have a three year gap between the two so that helps.
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