The director of my kids’ preschool once said, “Parenting is really just one long goodbye.” At that moment, she was trying to ease the nerves of us first-time parents as we dropped our children off for those few hours at school. I still think about her words, because she hit the nail on the head. Parenting is a continuous journey of letting go, bit by bit.
This week, my kids took another step forward in their lives. One graduated from elementary school and the other finished middle school. They don’t call it graduation since there are no degrees involved; instead, they refer to it as “promotion,” allowing us to celebrate this milestone without the formalities.
I snapped the obligatory photos of my kids in outfits that will likely never see the light of day again. I managed to capture one shot of Max as he walked out with the sea of 450 middle schoolers, most of whom I didn’t even recognize. Unfortunately, I missed getting a picture of Ava because we were unknowingly perched on the wrong side of the auditorium. I shared the pictures on social media with a lighthearted comment about them growing up, but deep down, my emotions were on the brink of overflowing.
They are maturing, becoming more aware of the world around them. They have lives that don’t always include us, friendships that I’m not always in the loop about, and feelings they sometimes choose not to share, even when we’re all under the same roof. They are gradually pulling away, as they should, and as we must allow.
In just four short years, my eldest will be off to college. Four years seems like a blink of an eye. I find myself saying things like, “Let me show you how to do this; it might come in handy when you’re at college.” They look at me as if I’ve completely lost my marbles, rolling their eyes while occasionally indulging my ramblings. They don’t yet grasp that their time living at home will zoom by.
This is all part of that long goodbye. It’s the phase we know is inevitable—the milestones that mark their growth—but one we’re never truly ready for. It’s our responsibility as parents to prepare them to soar on their own.
While I intellectually understand this is part of parenting, my heart struggles to let go.
If you’re intrigued by topics related to home insemination, check out our other blog post here, or learn more about the process through this excellent resource on artificial insemination. For those looking into practical solutions, visit Make a Mom for expert insights.
In summary, parenting is a series of goodbyes that we must embrace, even when our hearts want to hold on a little longer.