Today is the first day of school. Even though I don’t have kids at home, the school year dictates my calendar. Until next June, I will allow extra time to drive through school zones or, better yet, avoid them if possible. I will stay away from the grocery store after 3:00 in the afternoon, too many moms with tired students in tow grabbing just one more ingredient for dinner. And the lack of traffic on the road at odd hours will remind me of holidays of which I was not aware.
Nevertheless, the first day of school is a nostalgic day for me. Because I was fortunate enough to have been a stay-at-home mom, my whole life revolved around the school calendar. Let’s see, 3 boys times 12 years of school, that’s 36 individual first days of school! However, one year stands out in my memory, because, for that son, it set the tone for all the days to follow.
A week or so before the start of our oldest son’s freshman year at Churchill High School, we attended orientation night. At the end of the program a slide show took parents and students on a virtual tour of the next four years by showing all the activities that go on at Churchill ending with pictures of graduation. That’s when it hit me. This was it. Trey would be home for four more years. Then he would go off to college and there would be no more first days of school for him.
As we walked to the car, I put my arm around his shoulder and, with tears in my eyes, said, “Well, Trey, this is it, the beginning of the end.”
He looked at me with his biggest smile and earnestly responded, “Isn’t it great!”
Our viewpoints could not have been more different. I was looking down the mountain toward the end of the trek. He was looking up the mountain at the beginning of the trek. Little did I know that he would be gone much sooner than I expected.
It happened in his junior year. For one semester he was an exchange student to Germany and lived in West Berlin at the time the wall was still standing. The sadness and uncertainty of allowing him to go into the unknown was overwhelming. This was in the old-timey days when anyone could go to the gate at the airport; Butch and I, his brothers, Andy and Joe, stayed glued to the window until we saw his plane soar into the air. Six months later I felt like I was flying I was so happy and relieved when we met him at the airport to welcome him home. But this was his beginning. Years later when the wall fell, he called his German host parents from Chile where he was doing a college semester abroad.
He’s an adult now and we are still experiencing beginnings. This Sunday he arrives from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he now lives, for a thirty-day visit to the states. We will experience another ending when he leaves to go back home.
Yes, for he and I both that night was the beginning of the end. And today for the students in my city it is a beginning of the end with all the anticipation and trepidation that goes with beginnings and endings. Parents and students, my advice: whether your view is up or down the mountain take it one beginning at a time. The ending will be here before you know it. Relish the beginning and the ending will be that much sweeter.
Woodpile Kitty 
Kay,
What a neat story! You write beautifully!! And you manage to bring back all kinds of memories.
Thanks,
syd
Hi!
I`m Mado, a friend of sweet Trey. I am also a foreigner living in Buenos Aires and I understand your feeling. Your beginning will be a temporary end for me (us) here.
And do not worry, we are all taking good care of him. I am very fortunate to have such a lovable soul in my life, being myself far away from home, and sometimes needing honest and joyful people around me.
Enjoy him!
He is sweet, isn’t he? It amazes me how he makes so many friends everywhere he goes. Are you like Trey and prone to wander?
Oh yes. I wander so much that sometimes I am not sure where I am 😉
Enjoy sweete Trey.
Much love
Kay, What a beautiful story. I am so glad to learn more of your family and their adventures. Thanks for sharing.
Suzanne Letch
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Kay your story brought back a lot of memories of my kids and yours, as well. I remember your years as band parents and how much you enjoyed them. I guess you never get over seeing your children as just that, children. So now my children are in their 40’s and quite grown up but unfortunately for them, I still at times talk to them like they were teenagers. According to Mom that’s part of being a parent.
I love this article! I know there are many parents who can identify with you. It’s so hard to see them grow up and move away. You and Butch have done an excellent job of handling it. The two of you have raised three great guys.
See above!
Nicely done, Kay! I know these experiences and cannot believe how quickly our children grow up and move away, taking their own different paths away from ours. God keeps showing me that they are definitely their own persons, that He loves them even more than we do, and that they are awesome young people making their ways in the world. I am so grateful that He allowed us to rear these beautiful and precious little children in our home for those few, fleeting years. I’m now learning how to be friends as well as parent to each one. Thank you for sharing!
Kay,
You have taught me so much about raising kids over the years. Thank u for this beautiful reminder of cherishing each moment!
Love you , kim
Kim, I’m glad you dropped by Woodpile Kitty. Raising kids seems to be endless, but they are out of the house all too quickly. Then parenting moves to praying and giving advice only when asked. In many ways it’s the hardest parenting of all.