Seriously, where does the time go?

[Miss Mary]

As some of you know, our oldest daughter is a senior in High School this year. Last night we filled out the order forms for her diploma, cap/gown/tassel, graduation announcements/name cards, etc. I had to keep reprinting her full name.....Nina Marie Last Name. We had to measure her height so my husband pulled out his trusty Stanley Ruler (handy since we're still finishing up our basement rec room). Suddenly as he's measuring her, I realized never have I filled out her entire name so many times since she was an infant (birth announcements, first pediatrician visit). In the span of mere seconds, it hit me - where has 17 years gone? I want to know!!! All sorts of memories popped up - first steps, first lost tooth, first day of K, dance recitals, teaching her to drive, etc. When she (and her sister) were babies older parents would tell us all the time - enjoy this time because it goes by so quickly. At the time you are knee deep in diapers and bottles (or nursing in some cases). You look at these parents and think - huh, oh sure, the years will fly by..... Somewhere along the line, Elem School years on, they do fly by! Very fast. You begin to follow that school calendar and one by one, the years accumulate.

So now I'm one of those older parents looking at new parents thinking - awww, enjoy these days b/c they fly by. Now I'm saying those words!!! And I think of young parents here like Jen/Chad and Amanzi. Don't blink too much b/c if you do, next thing you know you'll be preparing senior packets like I was last night. And almost tearing up. Or looking at colleges like we've been. Man oh man, I honestly do not know where the time went.

All of this reminded me of the time we began looking at houses, since we were outgrowing our small condo. Nina was 6 months old. She had just awakened from a nap in the car, we fed and changed her. In other words, she was in a really good mood, laughing and smiling. Walked into an older house that was having an open house, being sold by owners. They took one look at Nina and said awww, enjoy these years....bla bla bla. They would hardly let us look the house over! Long story short, they fell in love with US and we knew they wanted this young family to buy their house. Their kids were in college, it was time to downsize and pass their home onto a younger couple. They completely redid the first floor over, a definite selling plus. We walked upstairs and talk about a time warp - one bedroom had 60's peace sign wallpaper. The other rooms and baths were all very outdated. Fast forward to now and I know Nina would flip for that wallpaper (my daughter who is convinced she was born in the wrong era). Anyway, we could barely get away from this couple and later we said it's silly to buy a house, b/c this couple wanted us to buy it so much. Funny thing is I forget where this house was located but now I want to drive by it again. We liked 50% of it, that was the problem......the other 50% of it needed work. And we were knee deep in diapers ya know....

Seriously, to any young parents on the boards - cherish these years. Never thought I'd utter these words but they're so true - they truly do fly by.

I think I'm gonna need a case of tissues this year!

Mary

[Martinsville Weather]

Touching story. Time indeed does fly by. I remember doing all that graduation stuff that you were doing last night, it seems like it was just a few days ago and it's been 2 years now. I miss my high school days but time is passing so quickly now. I can't believe I'm already 1/4 of the way through my second year of college (and I know my parents, like you, can't believe it either). Make sure you and she cherish the rest of her senior year because it will go by way too fast.

[azskyman]

Miss Mary...indeed they do fly by. And yes, you will need those tissues. What mixed feelings we have when our children begin that trek into adulthood. On the one hand, we love to watch them take those steps with confidence and exhuberance. On the other, we know all too well that there are pitfalls and troublesome days that will cross their paths.

My "kids" are now 27 and 31. They have made good choices and bad since leaving the nest...but then so have I.

You have done well to prepare your daughter for what is ahead, but what she has ahead of her...well, it is not what you had ahead of you at that age...and so she will stumble here and there trying to figure it all out. I have discovered, though, that they do go back to their roots. Things that were almost unnoticed in childhood become topics around the dinner table and are wonderful food for the soul. And their value system is really, really a part of them that you provided, and it never really left.

I met my youngest son's girlfriend Jodi this week. She lives in Seattle. He lives in San Diego. We took them out to dinner last evening.

Kathy and I are curious how a long distance relationship can evolve and survive, but I heard Jodi say two times that Jarrod's heart and compassion are relied upon by some of their mutual friends. I liked that. It is true.

I mentioned to her that I know he is also a loyal person...that greater distance does not diminish that in him. That is an attribute I also have.

Letting go is both exciting and painful...but it is necessary nonetheless. We surely want to know that our kids will be ok when our time here is done.

But the time really does speed up over the years.

We will be welcoming our second granddaughter into the world perhaps next month.

Steve

[therock1811]

I remember doing it last year. And the year DID fly by, so fast I didn't know what was forward and what was behind! You're starting school one morning, and the next thing you know she's walking up to that podium to get that diploma. I know, I was there just a few months ago!

[weathermom]

Little Girl Grown
by Arlene Mandell

Monday I tied blue ribbons in her hair
before she went to school.
Tuesday I packed her teddy bear
and she was off to camp.
Friday I drove her to college
with her silver flute.
Sunday she moved to Manhattan with her fiance.

Will the neighbors on East 35th Street
please see that she doesn't dawdle
on her way to work?
She's the one with the flute
and the teddy bear
and the blue ribbons
in her hair.


My daughter's teacher gives this poem to the parents at back-to-school night. Third time with this teacher (she is wonderful by the way)so I have seen it several times now...
I cry every time I read it, and my oldest is only to the Tuesday line.

[Skywatch_NC]

Mary,

I'll always remember my graduation from Greater Cincinnati Christian H.S. back in June 1982...hard to believe it's been now 22 years!

Please tell Nina we here at Storm2K wish her the VERY best in this next chapter of her life!

Eric

[Stephanie]

Little Girl Grown
by Arlene Mandell

Monday I tied blue ribbons in her hair
before she went to school.
Tuesday I packed her teddy bear
and she was off to camp.
Friday I drove her to college
with her silver flute.
Sunday she moved to Manhattan with her fiance.

Will the neighbors on East 35th Street
please see that she doesn't dawdle
on her way to work?
She's the one with the flute
and the teddy bear
and the blue ribbons
in her hair.


My daughter's teacher gives this poem to the parents at back-to-school night. Third time with this teacher (she is wonderful by the way)so I have seen it several times now...
I cry every time I read it, and my oldest is only to the Tuesday line.

I can hear Miss Mary bawling from here!! That was very sweet.

[Miss Mary]

I did cry!! Thanks wxmom for that poem - that's a keeper. I've never heard of it before now. I'm on the line with camp mentioned (do Orchestra trips count?)! Next August it will the drive to college I'm sure.

Kevin and Jeremy - you two know full well what this is like, since it wasn't that long ago for you guys. Yes a child's senior year is very special and so far it has been. We haven't done the last this or last that yet - too early for that I'm sure. I know there's a senior breakfast in the spring along with a picture slide show so we're looking thru pics now. Seniors are allowed to dress up for Halloween the Friday before the 31st. A special consideration only for Seniors. Lots of memories being formed now.

Steve - I just knew you'd respond on my topic. I will pray for Jarrod and Jodi to keep their relationship going long distance (just think if they got serious someday, they could name their kids with the letter J!). Now you know I've really been crying....LOL

Eric - I will indeed pass along your well wishes to Nina. She usually just rolls her eyes as my what I call you all - wx board family - but sometimes she says aww, Mom they sound so nice! Well, you all are ya know....ought oh, getting weepy here!!! Gonna stop while I'm still ahead.

The purpose of my thread was to reach out to parents with young children. Two things I really wished I had been better at were keeping the baby books filled out each year and pictures developed promptly after being taken and better yet, put into albums ASAP. Yikes, both are a mess. I need a power session with Nina soon - okay who was at your 5th BD party and where did we go....questions like that. Hey, you can cheat when they're still 'kids'!!! Her memory is better than mine at this point!

Mary