This got me thinking of all the lasts my kids and I will be experiencing. My son will be driving soon. That means I’ve driven him to his last school dance and didn’t realize it. I will be dropping him off for the last time at work, but don’t know when that last will be. Unless the weather is really bad or we need to use his car, I will have taken him to school for the last time.
All too soon, I will have more lasts than firsts and I’m just not ready. Soon, there will be a last time I yell at my kids to clean their rooms because they won’t be living here anymore. There will be the last time I tuck them in. There will be a last time I wake them up in the morning. The last time I pack their lunches. The last time I watch them splash in the pool. The last time we take random walks together.
They are about to experience so many firsts, which I’m excited to have them experience. Yet, those firsts for them lead to more lasts for me. I know I still have so many firsts to experience as well. My children’s first boyfriend or girlfriend. The first time they head off to college. The first grandchild. I’m looking forward to all of the wonderful firsts they get to have, but I can’t help but to be sad for all of the lasts. I know they are a little sad for the lasts as well.
Everyone says time goes by so fast and to embrace each moment. It’s hard to embrace it all when you’re in the middle of it, but it’s so true. Sometimes the moments hit you like a ton of bricks and other times you almost don’t catch them. My son treats each time he sees someone like it’s going to be the last time. He focuses all of his attention on them and is present in the moment. I feel as though we should all be a little more like him. Appreciate the moments so when it’s a last, it doesn’t hit so hard.