Today, while holding back tears, I witnessed my baby receive his diploma and proudly announce with a strange little grimace that one day he would like to be a cop. Not a police officer, nor a policeman, but a cop.
I watched from afar as his two teachers hugged their students for the last time, the ones they met just under a year ago, when many barely knew the letters in their own name. How bittersweet the feelings must be letting go of a child that you have taught day after day. How easy it must be to get attached to children that are entrusted to you in such an environment, where boo-boos are tended to with TLC, and laughter is abundant, if not overflowing. I saw the tears in those teachers' eyes, and I had to bite down on my lower lip to keep the tears from welling up in my own. Not unusual, as I cry easily whenever someone else does, but today they were letting go of their “2nd children”, and I felt their pain.
I took a gazillion pictures to mark the special day, smiled happily with Ethan in a pic or two, and clapped loudly after Ethan and the rest of the kids sang the graduation song they had been practicing for weeks. I got to hear bits and pieces at home, but he’d clam up when he realized I’d been listening; he didn’t want to give away too much of the “surprise”. He also promised me this time he would sing since last time he was so shy that he barely moved. And he did. He sung his heart out without a glimmer of fear in his eye. I was a proud mama, I can tell you that much.
Ethan and his bestest friend. He even has his name written on his wall in Bendaroos.
So the boy is officially a kindergartener. And on June 3rd, I will have a 4th grader.
Why? Because time has said so. And that's just the way it is.
And I've also decided to take the advice of the nice lady I met at Seb's school yesterday. She looked at Clementine and said,
"Enjoy each stage for what it is, because each is wonderful in its own way."
And so I will.
2 comments:
Awwww...sniff. You perfectly conveyed the pride/joy/sadness butterflies and got me all choked up. Those were wise words at the end, and so, so true.
We will have to prop each other up this fall-my baby goes to kindergarten, my eldest who I can still feel being placed in my arms for the first time, will be in 6th grade. Bwwwaaaaaaaaa! (and the others in between will be in 2nd and 4th. Freaking insane).
You have a beautiful little boy. :)
Congratulations to Ethan! Time really flies, next year Garrison will be in the 2nd Grade and Jeremiah will be in Kindergarten! I can't believe it!
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