Time to Help the Graduate Start Their Own Journey, and I’m Actually Excited About It

home insemination Kit

It’s that time of year again—graduation season is in full swing. Students are proudly wearing their caps and gowns, from preschoolers to college graduates. This is particularly on my mind as my eldest is about to finish high school. I’ve heard all about the emotional rollercoaster I’m supposed to experience. The longing for the days of his first-grade send-off to replace his twelfth-grade farewell. But honestly, I’m not feeling it.

I’ve revisited those adorable kindergarten videos and sifted through second-grade report cards filled with heartfelt notes from teachers about my child. I’ve even stumbled upon forgotten baby pictures and sentimental Mother’s Day cards from years past while trying to compile a tribute for his senior year. Yet, strangely enough, none of these memories have stirred deep emotions. You might wonder, what’s wrong with me? I think I’ve figured it out.

Every year around this time, a poignant poem circulates online. It reflects on the “lasts” we experience with our children. It’s definitely a tearjerker. Here are some lines that resonate:

• One day, you’ll carry them on your hip, and then that will be the last time you do.
• They’ll hold your hand to cross the street, and then never do so again.
• They will run to you with outstretched arms for the very last time.

While these sentiments are sweet, I find myself in a different headspace. I’m ready to help this 6-foot-1, snack-devouring, sock-leaving, smelly young man transition out of my home and into his next chapter. In fact, I have my own “lasts” to reflect on:

Once your child reaches adolescence, everything changes. You might reminisce about the days when entering his room didn’t require a gas mask—those days are long gone, along with his willingness to heed your advice.

This is the last time you’ll receive phone calls from the school notifying you that your darling has left campus without permission. Just the other day, he executed a perfect Dukes of Hazzard spinout in the school parking lot, which ended with him bumping into another car and knocking down a light pole.

These are the final days of a room filled not with toys, but with every piece of cookware you own, along with an impressive collection of bowls and cups sporting hardened remnants of milk. But don’t fret; these chaotic moments are temporary.

Soon enough, you’ll log into your iTunes account and not find $107 worth of charges for a college basketball app or an eclectic mix of questionable songs. There will come a day when your 18-year-old won’t send a golf ball crashing into your neighbor’s window, and you won’t have to search for measuring cups in the skillet drawer after asking him to unload the dishwasher.

There will be a glorious day when he’ll gather every pair of worn-out underwear, moldy towel, and empty deodorant can that he mistakenly believes is still effective, and he will leave. He’ll walk out the door, and that will be the last time you hear his car—one that screeches at an ear-piercing decibel level—departing from the driveway. Except, it won’t be.

Don’t get too cozy with the thought of no longer doing laundry or heating up pizza rolls for this creature. Leaving for good is the furthest thing from his mind.

So please forgive me if I’m not feeling sentimental or nostalgic. He’s ready for this next step—he knows how to scavenge for food and utensils, he understands how to pack, and he’s aware of personal hygiene tools. And I’m pretty sure he knows how to find his way back home. Hopefully, it won’t be the last time.

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Summary

Graduation season brings a mix of emotions, but for many parents, it can also be a time of excitement for the next chapter in their child’s life. While there are sentimental moments to cherish, it’s also a relief to see them ready for independence. As they prepare for their future, parents can look forward to a new phase of life, even if it means managing a bit of chaos along the way.