Tuesday is/was/will be The Daughter's first day of school.
The first day of her senior year of high school.
Her last first day of public school.
I know she's going to be emotional.
I know her mother is going to be worse.
I know I'll probably be the worst of all, even if I won't show it.
Her mother's been through this before. Kindergarten. Grade school. Middle school. Junior high. This is really my first last time.
If sucks, and it's awesome at the same time.
Right now, she's sitting on the sofa, "The Simpsons" marathon on FXX playing silently on the TV, while she reads the 4th Percy Jackson novel to us. A year from now, we'll be moving her into her dorm somewhere. She'll won't be leaving forever; but she will never really live here again, either. She'll be spreading her wings. Growing into an independent young woman. Taking those first step down the path of the rest of her life.
So, I'll try to spend the next year not looking too far forward (The school visits, admissions deadlines, and whatever the heck FAFSA is). Rather, I'll be looking back at the 4 years she's been my Daughter, when she's gone from a beautiful young …
… to an even more beautiful young lady, and enjoy the now. Because the now is pretty dang sweet.
Just like her.
Man, no one said this parenting thing could be the happiest and saddest thing in the world. At the same time. Good thing I've got a wonderful partner to share these highs and lows with.
1 comment:
*sniffle* She was in mary jane shoes, holding a pink backpack, and walking through the door of her Kindergarten classroom for the very first time just yesterday, I swear.
It's not fair.
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