Turning around and they are gone

My son, Daniel, attended the MUN Convocation last week and was presented with his Bachelor of Business Administration.

My emotions are all over the place.

Of course, I am extremely proud of him. I also feel like time has passed me by.

Today, I am thinking of all those times when the kids were young, people would say to me “you’ll turn around some day and they will be gone.”

Then it happened. I turned around and the kids have grown into adults.

I am thinking about my son’s next steps. He just started a new job, buying a car, a house, getting married, having children.

Then, one day he’ll turn around and they will be gone.

Wow, he is just starting his life and I already have him married with grown children in my imagination!

When I think back over the years, I really would go back and do it all over again. The birthday parties, the Easter egg hunts, hiding the Christmas presents, the first trip to Disney. Having my mother attend all those events.

I guess I am melancholy because I am thinking about how proud mom would be of him. I am reflecting on all the times I dressed him up and drove to her house to show him off; wearing his kindergarten school uniform, Halloween costumes, Christmas bow ties. Mom would look out the front window watching us get out of the car and wave to him. He would run into her house and jump up in her arms.

I wish she could see him in his university cap and gown. I know she would wrap her arms around him and say, “I always said you were special.”

A lump formed in my throat as I watched him walk across the stage to accept his degree. When he knelt on the bench and the Dean put the business hood over his shoulders it took my breath away. I was incredibly proud.

My little boy has his degree in business and his first job. Where did those years go?

I will forever see him as my baby boy with the big blue eyes who taught me what unconditional love is.

If you’re lucky enough to still have your children young, hold on to those precious moments because one day, you’ll turn around and they will be gone.

#kids #children #mothersandsons