Once upon a time I stumbled out of bed, drove the kids to school super early, and made it to work on the opposite end of the city by 8:00 a.m. For several years, Kelsey and Tate attended school at two different campuses making the drive even crazier. On lunchroom duty days, or when there was a school meeting, I spent more time in the car than at home. All I seemed to do was drive, pray, and love.
Many mornings I walked into the bank not remembering the drive, in a dream state. I wished for a fairy godmother.
And suddenly one spring morning, Kelsey drove Tate. Ten minutes later (it seemed), Tate drove himself. Spelling, no longer a school subject, was magically replaced with debate or calculus or anything else, thank goodness. Besides, there was automatic spell check.
After years and years of driving to school, I stopped almost overnight, returning only for the occasional trip back for a band concert or graduation ceremony.And then the little prince and princess drove themselves away to college.
Recently I drove downtown in route to the airport, taking the same streets I maneuvered to school all those years. There was a time I thought it would never end, that I would not survive ONE MORE TRIP to school.
Now as I drive that route the memories are pleasant. I remember discussing field trips, harvest festival, drill team practice, boy scout meetings, homecoming dance, and yes, even reviewing spelling words while driving along Gaston Avenue.
The pain of the moment vanished, replaced only by an amazing end result. Similar to childbirth. At least for me….happily ever after.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before. – Steven Wright
Musical Pairings:
Ricky Van Shelton, Keep it Between the Lines
Love this post – and I’m right behind you!
Yes you are! I especially realize it after seeing those handsome homecoming pics:)
Bittersweet!
Very sweet, Mom. Love you!
And now, you can sit on the porch with coffee and the newspaper as long as you like. Then, if you like, you can piddle around in the kitchen or make the bed or wash windows or… or…write! Like I can do now. There IS a great life after the children are grown and have families of their own. Check-plus on the blog.
I remember talking about Tate’s spelling and going to pep rallies to see Kelsey dance like it was yesterday!! Next year Sam will start kindergarten and it will be just the beginning of my school driving days… Pray for me! 🙂 At least now I know that at some point they will be fond memories and not nightmares!
I can’t believe Sam will be in Kindergarten next year! Your kids will be spaced like mine:))
Great post, Talya! My two oldest are 28 and 27 years old, now, and my youngest is 19 and off to college. I miss them and the great times we had together. Looking back, I wish I would have taken time to keep a daily journal during the time my boys were growing up. My ‘rememberizations’ aren’t as good as I’d like them to be, but it’s funny how certain things I encounter, these days, remind me of the great times I had with my boys. I seem to remember the good times far more than the stressful times…Anyhow, I hope you can publish this post on the Advocate site. I feel it will help to lead parents to more appreciate the time they have with their children, as well as see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak!=) Knowing we did the best we could do with our children is reward enough, but I tell my boys to get as good of an education as they can and get well paying jobs…because after all I’ve sacrificed for them over the years, and when the day comes, I want to stay in a fancy nursing home…haha…of course, I’m just kidding with them, and they know it. I love my boys, and I love this post. Keep ’em coming, Talya! You’re awesomely talented!
This is a super great post!
I wish to be a super mom like you when the time comes 🙂
http://extraordinairememoir.blogspot.com/
Lovely post! My son is 12 years old, and today he left for a Junior Leadership Seminar, he will be away from home for a whole week! And I still remember the first day I drop him on the day care.
Love this post, but it makes me teary-eyed.