Miriam Webster defines transition as 1 a : passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another : change b : a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another.
As parents, we define transitions as those pivotal moments that define us.
I have never transitioned particularly well when it comes to my kids. The year my daughter “graduated” from the 4s class I told that to the pre-school director in passing. To my surprise she quoted me moments later when making her speech. It seems that sentiment hit the nail on the head for her.
It is so bittersweet to watch our kids move on to the next level. They usually float from transition to transition with much less apprehension than we have. Perhaps it is part of our desire to protect them. Or maybe we are just trying to hang on just a little bit longer to the previous stage we have become so attached to.
Funny thing about parenting, the better we get at it the more independent our kids become. In some ways, we facilitate our own obsolescence. Isn’t that the natural order?
It is that time of year folks. Back to school no longer means a new box of crayons and color-coded binders and folders. (what? all families don’t do that?). This year, in my house, back to school means college applications for my youngest and back to college for my oldest. Not to mention that 7 of my close girlfriends are sending off 7 daughters and a son in the next few weeks.
This is the mother of all back to schools!
So here I am, right before it all starts. And yesterday my son’s oldest buddy drove up to the house hours after he arrived home from camp. There he was, sitting behind the wheel of a car, and all I kept thinking was how can this be that adorable little boy I have known since he was born? How can he be over 6′ tall and driving a car? And then with the sweet demeanor of that same little boy inside him he said, “Oh, Amy, come here. I keep forgetting to show this to you. For some reason I have been carrying this around in my wallet.” And out he pulled the baseball card above of that 40 lb. 3’8″ little blonde boy. Danny at 6 1/2!
Thanks Robbie, for bringing back that time and reminding me that no matter how many transitions we experience, the foundation we have built will always keep us all close.
Let the games begin.
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
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i could cry but i don't have time 
Once I stopped being able to rest my chin on the top of my son’s head when I hugged him, I realized that it was all going way too fast.
He’s off to KSC a week from tomorrow. Sigh……
oy…..
they say it’s easier the second time around. They lied, it isn’t…
and the third is not going to be a piece of cake either…
This is the push-me/pull-you life we have.
Leave. Wait come back. No, leave. Wait, come back…
Nevertheless, it is time for them to leave, start their lives independently of ours, and learn to navigate the world by themselves. But as i grab yet another tissue,I keep saying (read:trying to convince to myself) “this is a good thing, this is a good thing”
I send my daughter to college next week and I know what you mean. Bittersweet, if we do our job well, we’re out of one.
maybe no crayons or binders…but we did go to staples yesterday to buy his first backpack since the yellow house in weber! (he claims it was from 8th grade…i think it was 10th). whatever–my son REALLY doesn’t like shopping…and he’s very sentimental. you wouldn’t believe what’s hanging around in the bottom of the backpack that he’s now been schlepping cross-country for 2 years…..
I came across this blog and found that it hit home. In 3 wks I will send my oldest to college. I have been a wife and mom all my adult life- this is as monumental for ME as it is for my son!
I loved where you said
“Funny thing about parenting, the better we get at it the more independent our kids become. In some ways, we facilitate our own obsolescence. Isn’t that the natural order?”
This is oh so true- I keep telling myself THIS is how it’s supposed to be, this is the natural order. Guess that doesn’t make it any easier on mom though.
Thank you for sharing your blog 🙂
Hang in there. I promise on some level it does get easier.
Then again, talk to me at the end of august when both my kids are gone and the dog is looking around the house wondering what the hell happened.
thanks for reading. i promise you only cry here on tuesdays. the rest of the time is a laugh a minute