Today, we sent the little one off to her first day of kindergarten and the teen boy off to (gulp) high school.

Although the little one clung to my hand in the hallway, as soon as we got to her classroom, she wanted us to be gone. I now understand why I broke my mother’s heart over and over. Like the little one, I was determined to be free of all that pesky parental guidance cramping my style. No backward glance, no hug for reassurance. Just an impatient squirm out my arms and ONWARD. That’s my girl.

We then drove down the road to the high school. Before we could form the words goodbye, he dashed out the back door and off to find his friends. My husband got out of the car and stood there for a moment, wanting to call him back and then reluctantly letting him go. As we pulled out of the parking lot, we drove past upperclassmen getting out of their cars. It occurred to me that very soon, he won’t even need us to get him to school anymore.

It seems that the only time you say hello to your child is at birth; the rest of the time, you’re saying goodbye in one way or another.

My husband made a gut-wrenching comment earlier about how one is at the beginning of the beginning, and the other is at the beginning of the end. Today, as I watched the kids go off to their respective new schools, I silently wished for both of them a day that would create good memories.

As a parent, sometimes that’s all you can do.

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