grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Seven Years Ago

By

September 2006

Guess what today is Mom? It’s the first day of my last year in high school!

Seven years ago my daughter made that bubbly pronouncement standing at the bottom of the stairs. Wearing her plaid, pleated uniform skirt, the same plaid she had worn every school day for eleven years, she looked all of ten.

She looked all of twenty.

The screen door slapped shut as she rushed down the porch steps to begin her senior year of high school. I choked back tears. Caught completely off guard, I stared at my gluten-free cereal and wondered what had happened to my life.

Senior year was the busiest of all. Add to her regular school and church activities, a string of pre-graduation events followed—barbecues, teas, lunches—one a month it seemed. Each function came with parent committees and meetings, participation costs and new cute outfits. Factor into this equation multiple college applications, essays and college visits, there was no time to blink or think or sleep.
I’m convinced the school did everything possible to exhaust and numb senior parents, a sort of coping strategy. When the day arrived and our babies walked across the stage, there were no tears or twangs of bittersweet memories but only a collective sigh from the audience. Someone shouted hallelujah from the back corner. Maybe it was me.

The exhausting year was finally over.

My daughter the valedictorian:))
Seven years ago, my son began eighth grade. Middle school was tough and different. Add to his regular school and church activities, he (and the entire family) was consumed with boy scouts, juggling merit badges with homework, campouts with sporting events. He had his eye on the Eagle.

And let’s not forget the trumpet. My son played the trumpet. The trumpet is loud.

Life was good.

Life was hectic.

What were you doing seven years ago?

talya
Grace Grits and Gardening

This was written for the Write Tribe Festival of Words.

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Comments

  2. My older son was still drifting in school and scouts. It wouldn’t be until the spring (and a buddy’s Eagle COH) the light would come on.

    The younger son was in Middle School and beginning to rebel against what he perceived as expectations. He survived, though.

  7. Wow … I am sure now your daughter would be more beautiful and would be making you more proud !!! 7 years ago I was waiting to get married to the love of my life 🙂 and still am 😀

  9. Lovely photo of your daughter. Great memories but I’m sure you’re glad the hecticness of her senior year is over. So exhausting as you say. You made me laugh about the idea that the school deliberately made the parents exhausted and numb as a coping strategy. I can relate!

  13. Seven years ago, I was teaching all those students who were juggling all of those activities and helping them to write those essays for college apps. Senior year is a crazy year for students, parents, and teachers. I’ve since retired, but I still get former students requesting help with their essays. I’m with you on that sigh of relief when it’s all over.
    Penny
    http://pennymcdanielspiritualguidance.blogspot.com

    • Well I gotta hand it to you. I don’t know how teachers do it. I hope you are enjoying your retirement. I bet you can stay very busy helping kids with essays. Thanks for reading. Checking out your blog now… T.

  14. Love this, Talya! Let’s see: Seven years ago I was the busy working mom of a junior girl in HS. I was overwhelmed at work but enjoyed my job and being a mom. Seven years ago, my moms memory was still spot on. Sadly, that’s not the case now and sadly, still – that’s about all I remember. 🙁

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