With school coming to an end, I’ve had so many moments of reflection lately thinking about how the school year possibly went by so fast. As my kids get older, I can’t help but get that feeling of angst about how much time I have left with them. I try not to focus on that so much because I want their remaining years at home to be lived to the fullest and not fraught with worry or sadness.

I’ve seen so many IG pics lately of kids on their first day and their last day of school and I’m always amazed by how much the kids have changed. This is a tradition I have never done but I just may adopt it this year since I know for a fact both of my kids have changed tremendously this year. Outwardly, they are getting taller and becoming more and more like young adults while on the inside, they waiver back and forth between wanting to be independent and still needing us, or even worse, wanting to be with us:)

Looking back over the last school year, I can honestly say that my best laid plans, expectations and even predictions for how the year would go really didn’t look anything like I pictured, but I also recognize that isn’t a bad thing. It makes me realize more than ever, that I am definitely not in control and neither are they. God has a plan for each of them and while both of their years went in directions I never imagined, they both also matured, grew and learned some important lessons along the way.

I always tell them that I am so strict with them when it comes to school because I just want them to have options in life. I want them to look at their next steps after high school and realize that they can do or be anything they want. While I make them crazy half the time about their grades and keeping up or going above and beyond, it’s because I ultimately want them to have their world at their fingertips.

As we set about making plans for the summer, I am mindful of the fact that more change is on the horizon so it is more important than ever to take the time with them now. There will be plenty of time after they are gone but for now, I truly can relate to the saying that the days are long but the years are short. Cheers to the close of another school year and the start of Summer!