To me, it has always seemed like after the 4th of July, we all blink, and suddenly school is starting again. This column is titled “Transitions,” and I’ve learned that we are all experiencing transitions in one way or another. Our high school graduates are moving on to their next chapterโsome are heading off to college, tech school, or stepping into the workforce. Meanwhile, parents are transitioning as well, adjusting to whatever path their children choose.
This time of year, as the little ones prepare to go back to pre-k, I canโt help but have flashbacks. Bless my firstbornโs heart! He was so upset with me when I insisted on walking him to his classroom on the first day of pre-k. I remember explaining my protective instincts to him like this: “I brought you into this world, and I have the right to walk you into school on your first day!” After that, I sat in my car and shed a tear or two.
Fast forward to a month after his graduation, and those protective feelings resurfaced when I had to say goodbye as he boarded a plane headed to boot camp. For obvious reasons, he didn’t give me the name and phone number of his Navy recruiter until he was about to leave. Yes, those protective instincts kicked in, and I made the call. During the conversation, the poor man told me he understood my anxiety. I asked him how many children he had and their ages. He politely replied that he had a two-year-old daughter. I couldnโt help but growl, “Sir, you have no clue how Iโm feeling!”
After my son’s twenty years of service to his country, this protective mom would love to have another conversation with that Navy recruiterโjust to check in and see how my son is doing.
As the new school year approaches, buses are being tuned up, meals are being planned, grass is being mowed, and floors are being cleaned. Teachers are preparing their classrooms and organizing lessons, while administrators oversee all the necessary details. It truly takes a village to guide a child from pre-k to graduation.
My best advice to all the adults is to enjoy the ride. It all goes by so quickly, and before you know it, youโre watching them drive away to their next chapter. Hereโs to everyoneโs transition into the school year 2025-2026. As for me, Iโm taking a step back to hibernate for a bit. But I still get my joy from reading to pre-k classes; I just donโt feel the need to growl anymore!
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