Graduation

This time of year always feels a bit melancholy to me. School is coming to an end and the celebration of Summer is before us, yet there is still something woeful about leaving a younger grade behind. Pushing past Elementary into Middle School is still one year away for our family, yet the impending prospect of it is fully in our sights.  We are lucky though, as our daughter’s Elementary continues through 6^th Grade, which I think is such a great thing.  It allows that transition into ‘big kid’ territory to be just a little less daunting.

So we are here, another year behind us, our daughter rapidly growing before our eyes.  So grateful for all her growth yet so sad that it really does happen as fast as everyone said it would.  Soon we will step into the territory of emotional and physical changes, crushes, heartbreaks, and increased independence. Middle school brings more academic challenges as well and, of course, as a parent there is watching your child navigate the rigors of preadolescence and hoping that it all goes smoother than your own journey into that complex world.

But I’m jumping ahead of myself.  At least for one more year I can watch her become what could be considered a “Senior” of her Elementary school.  Hopefully she is a role model to the younger kids, continuing to learn all she can while continuing to be goofy yet sweet…and hopefully she’ll have life long friendships out of her journey through Elementary.  So far, all signs are looking good.

At the end of the day, we will celebrate Graduation with the same gusto we do each year.  My daughter will wonder why I have tears in my eyes and carry a box of Kleenex while watching the school’s tribute to a group of 6^th graders they are waving “goodbye” to. We all put on a brave face and know that this is just the beginning of many more milestones in life…and we couldn’t be more grateful and proud of them all.

Thank you to our Teachers Cheri & Anne for such a memorable year.

“We don’t stop going to school when we graduate.”
-Carol Burnett