Why yes, you must continue to put up with me pondering Busy Girl's 8th grade graduation for another week or so.
In the midst of handing out money right and left during this graduation season and driving her from place, to place, to place, to place, the significance of the whole thing is dawning on me.
This past Tuesday, she walked out of her last exam and was done with grade school forever.
To put it in perspective, she started this school in 1999 and it's the only place she's known (save for a few random preschool memories).
She has been with the same kids for nine years, and just like that, it's over.
Part of my retrospection is that the school has had a very, very difficult year and it's overshadowed what was supposed to be the 8th graders' big moment.
They are an exceptional class and there's very few people around who even care, and that kind of sucks.
The other part of my retrospection is that she's my first born, and how did this happen?
Seriously, (Warning: cliche ahead) where did the time go?
When she was little, I hated it when people said, "Enjoy the time, it goes fast...yada, yada, yada..."
"Of course I know it goes fast, I've got it. Kthanxbai."
But, I know I really didn't get it.
I understand that to some of you, "It's just 8th grade, what's the big deal?"
But, it really is a big deal.
This was the only year that all of my kids were in the same school, I'll never drive them together again.
That's significant because Busy Girl going to high school marks a big emotional as well as physical separation from her brothers who (though a certain middle child would never admit it) adore her.
Busy D. will likely not remember going to school with her, and I worry about little things like that since they're almost 8 years apart. I want him to remember growing up with her.
As for Busy Girl herself, she's leaving the safety of her grade school and her classmates and, to her, going into a large unknown situation.
Yes, her father will be there with her for the next four years, and she will do great things in high school, but I can't help mourning the innocence that will be lost.
We've talked at length about social pressures she will face in high school, things I have no idea about, really, because: a. I'm old and b. I went to a very small girl's school.
She'll be fine, I just hate it for her that it's likely that she'll have friends, maybe even some she knows now, who might not be fine, who will change and not for the better.
Also, she's been a big fish in a small pond for a long time, and she's likely going to be knocked down a notch or two, a life lesson she needs learn, but, sad in a way, just the same.
It's not all morose, she's ready, she's going to a great school,actually here in a couple of weeks since she is taking a class this summer, and I'm excited for her.
(I was going to talk about her maturity, but she just called from her class trip to tell me she stayed up all night and drank more than one Full Throttle and is hallucinating, so I'll skip that part. She's fine.)
Piled onto this whole 8th grade graduation is the fact that Busy Boy will be starting junior high (same school) in the fall.
Busy Girl can be so dominant that sometimes I lose mental track of him and I forget he's growing up, too.
It will be a huge change for him for several reasons, and I worry about him a bit, but it will be good for him.
THEN, Busy D, is finishing kindergarten, can you believe it?
Kids starting kindergarten don't upset me too much, but the end of kindergarten just tears me up. He's not a baby anymore.
So, everyone is celebrating a milestone.
Graduation is on Saturday, but I have to get through the 8th grade banquet first.
I am not fond my potential for an "ugly cry" in public, but, I suppose I'll have to deal when they show the video.
It's not that I want to keep all of this from happening, on the contrary, it's time for her to move on and for the boys to grow as well.
It's just that sometimes, I'm not so good with change, even if it's a good change.
I suppose I just go about my business each day with the subconscious thought that, "this is life", and, I, well...live life.
Then, something happens that changes this little routine and I wake up one day and what was simply "life" yesterday, is a bygone era today, and I don't even get a practice run or warm-ups or anything.
Recent Entries on Busymom.net:
- The White Trash Mom Handbook
- Not what you want to hear after doing camp laundry
- It goes on and on my friends
- Still kickin'
- What now?
I just love your stories of your daughter. I have two boys and well we all know it's different with boys going to High School than girls. I am looking forward to the stories when she is in H. S. Thanks for sharing.
I totally understand where you're coming from right now. My oldest is going to junior high school next year which is a different and VERY LARGE (and did I mention scary?!?) school. The youngest is also finishing kindergarten this year. Egad. I'm trying not to think about it too much....
Once again, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I starting tearing up in the car this morning thinking this was the LAST time I'd ever bring Anna to elementary school.
I am with you too. My oldest goes to middle school next year and it scares the ever living crap out of me. I cannot even begin to fathom high school. I made a rule this morning that no body at our house is allowed to grow up any further -the baby can't walk and the big girls will stay in 3rd and 5th grade and of course Mommy will never turn 40 too bad the hubby already has :grins:
I'm not the sentimental type (at least I don't think I am) but dude, this is totally pulling at my heart strings. Gah, why do they have to grow up?
Oh heck, I cry at everything...I have 8th graders next year and the year after. I will be swimming in tears, no doubt
That was very well said; thank you for sharing.
(Beth B. - mommy to a growing 4.5 yr old)
Graduation-ditto (although it's HS)
Finishing Kinder-ditto
At least you don't have to go with one to register for COLLEGE CLASSES.
We do the elementary/middle/high school thing here, so it's a little different. But I'm suddenly remembering how hard it was to send our son off to high school (keep in mind, he was 4'9" with glasses and braces). I don't even want to think about sending our daughter off in a year (and she's normal-sized). Busy Girl will be fine, and so will you. All this angst just proves that you're a mom. And that's a good thing.
I totally understand what you're going through. My daughter's leaving the school SHE went to for 9 years, and NONE of her good friends are leaving with her. She's not nearly as nervous as I am.
That thing about milestones? Sometimes we don't even realize we have them until they're over. I just put together a slide show of my daughter and her girlfriends from Kindergarten through 8th grade, and there were so many things that I had forgotten all about. Thank God for pictures.
I'm going to get you for this one.
Tears at 7 in the morning?
This was beautiful.
By the way, make sure to take time to pay extra attention to Busy Boy. As you said, the oldest always seems to suck all the energy out of the room.
Middles/seconds always get the short end of the stick. I say this as a middle. But, I know you're doing great with him.
Dang, I'm right behind you. Mine will hit junior high one after another!
Like everybody else, me too! Last Monday we had Beanie's last EVER Middle School Orchestra concert. And when I saw that six-foot-tall man-kid walk on the stage, I gasped. I instantly envisioned the three foot tall baby that started kindergarten, what, yesterday? And unlike you, that was tough for me- I stayed at the school (which started at 8am) until 11:00. I sure do miss that baby...
It is SO a really big deal!! Coming out of a school where you've been since Kindergarden and entering a big high school is huge.
You are so smart to see that, and also to know that even if she's fine, she's going to see a lot of bad crap go down with kids she knows. My daughter came out of school having seen things I never saw in college. Things I still haven't experienced actually. It prepares them, but it's more and more grown up stuff.
I remember that photo montage from 8th grade graduation at CKS. I'm not a crier so I didn't cry, but they put up a baby pic of each child and computer morphed it into an 8th grade picture and -- wow.
Congrats!!!
Hi busymom,
I agree with you. I have the same reaction when people tell me that I need to enjoy her company now because time fly fast. Never did I realized that it is true. As I look at my two-year-old baby girl now, I can't help to think that she is really growing fast. How time flies that she is already now two years old. It was just like yesterday when she was an infant and all she did was to sleep and milk. I am a new blogger, my blog is just 3 days old and I am currently learning about it.
I get it! I totally get it!
-d
This post brought back a lot of memories for me, especially leaving all the kids I'd known for the 6 years I was my Catholic grade school. We all left our cocoon and went to different high schools; some changed for the better, some for the worse. Truly it was the best experience I never want to have again! Great post, thanks for the flashback!
Congrats to all the Busy children in their accomplishments, and to you for hanging in there all this time. My oldest is going into second grade. For some reason until this point it didn't hit me quite as hard. The end of preschool? No big deal. The beginning of Kindergarten? Exciting, but not a huge revelation. The end of Kindergarten? Still, not a big deal. But the end of first grade? Suddenly it's like "Whoa! Big kid! WHAT THE? Where did that come from?!" It's me, being hit by a ton of bricks. BAM!
You don't even get a mulligan! I was sad when DD#1 satrted in the preschool room at daycare - I can only imagine how hard grade 8 grad is!
I have one leaving elementary school next month and I feel the same way. so sad!
I have one leaving elementary school next month and I feel the same way. so sad!
Wow, I cry at phone commercials, so I'll be one of those moms who is a hopeless puddle at 8th grade graduation.
I'm sure you've armed her well for the challenges ahead. Good luck!
Stop it or I will start crying because my still unborn child will be leaving for college before I know it and those hormone driven tear fests scare my hubby.
The time goes even faster in high school and junior high. We are compoling a blogroll of moms who have teens and blog about them. Please stop by and add your name!! My boys are 17 and 19 but it was not so long ago that they were on 8th grade...:)
Ugh. With you totally. My baby is starting all day Kindergarten in the fall. I am super sad.
Oldest (sniff) graduates (sob) high school (full on wail) in 10 (gulp) days....
not only that middle enters HS in he fall, and youngest turns 10
so, I totally hear ya
My "baby" is just graduating high school, and his siblings did over a decade ago. I certainly can relate to "ch-ch-changes". High School is wonderful though. It's amazing to see how this young people come into their own with their interests and styles. May these next four years be full of wonderful adventure for both you and Busy Girl!
Got an 8th grader graduating, my soon-to-be 4th grader is changing schools, my middle girl is talking about some dance she's been asked to go to (by a boy!) and my youngest just finished her first chapter book. Yep, I'm going through pretty much the same emotions with all the goings on this month. Heck, I'm pretty emotional, every month. Happy thoughts of summer to us, both!
Hey.. I am so with you!!! Music girl just finished 8th grade and my baby is starting middle school. Ponygirl is bummed b/c she doesn't change this year.. but the whole thing is exciting and sad all at the same time1