That blissful yet every so slightly emotional highlight of 2019 is here – THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. Basically Christmas morning for parents, amiright? This year I’ve got a JUNIOR in Simon, a SOPHMORE in Sophie and two FIFTH GRADERS with Sadie and Sebastian (who are separated into two different classes).

This was the first year ever that I did not drive Simon or Sophie to school on their first day. Thanks to Simon’s newly acquired drivers license, he handles taking himself and his sister to both early morning seminary at the church (starts at 6:45) and once that is finished, on to the high school. He is also responsible for the after school cross country/track practice driving. I have effectively removed myself from the high school driving equation and honestly, it feels pretty good. Not completely and entirely good because I don’t get to see them enough and have them in front of me (or next to me in the car) like I’m used to…but it has made our school mornings much smoother. So far so good. Bless that third driver.

Next year Simon will be a SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. How is this a reality? It simultaneously feels like to took forever to be at this point and also no time at all. Time is weird like that. He plans to serve a mission for our church either right out of high school or after his first year of college; that is still a plan that needs more fleshing out. But he is committed to serving a mission and I love that about him. He wasn’t around much this summer due to an almost full time job and now with school and running he isn’t around. It’s like it is slowly preparing me for when he truly isn’t here. Not gonna lie, that’s a little hard for me to take. I can already tell my heart is going to struggle with him going out into the world. It’s a natural, necessary progression but you would have to have a completely cold heart to not feel pangs of sadness/nostalgia/fear at the thought of this next step. Luckily this is just JUNIOR year and I can manage that. He is tee’d up for great things this year particularly with running where he continues to be a force to be reckoned with in varsity cross country and track. He has some aggressive goals and I fully expect him to achieve them.

Sophie was SO ready to go back to school from the time finals ended last year. She is both a serious student and a social butterfly with a large group of friends who are generally like minded. School has always been a good and happy place for her so it is natural to see her back in this environment. She tackles her first AP class this year (AP Euro) and her first Honors class (English) as well as continuing to run varsity cross country and track. She is a little nervous about the AP class but that is to be expected and I’m not worried about her being successful in it. Her grades are her main priority and I’m excited to see what she does both in the classroom and in her races this year. She is poised for such great things.

Sadie and Sebastian are both in fifth grade this year. They kept up on their skills this summer with Khan Academy and because of that were able to start school with more confidence than in years past. They both like their teachers and are excited about what the year holds. They also both started on the same USATF team that Simon and Sophie ran on for years this past week and they love it. Running is so dang hard. Like, SO HARD. Our kids have all grown up running and racing and training and fueling and winning and losing and being frustrated and feeling exhilarated. I think it is the best sport in the world. The timing for Sadie and Seb to take this next step with their team is exciting and I can’t wait to see where it takes them. We have known the coaches for years and know that they are in great hands. Plus, the kids go to bed really tired which is a big plus.

I’ve never been one of those moms who tearfully sends their kid off to kindergarten (or any other grade for that matter). I’m an emotional person but have never gotten emotional about the passage of time with relation to the school year. Maybe its because I need for my kids to be in school? Or because they genuinely need to be in school in order to grow and improve? Or because my parents were never emotional with me about going to school? I dunno. It’s just not something that I do or have done. BUT. I can already tell that sending my oldest off to college when that time comes will be tough. Not bad, not the wrong thing…but still tough. There’s that quote “The days are long but the years are short” and for the most part I agree with that. There have been seasons with my kids at certain times that have felt VERY long and other times that flicked by so quickly it feels like it didn’t even happen. Did I used to take naps with my newborn Sophie cradled in my arms? Did I spin a baby Sebastian around the room and sing to him before plopping him in his crib at night? Is there dust in my eye or am I tearing up with the memories? Ahhhhh time. So very tricky.

I hope that you and yours had a wonderful back to school or are looking forward to it in the next few weeks. When I start to get anxious and scared about sending my kids off into this crazy world and wonder how on earth they will live/succeed/survive I just remember that I did it and I made it. My parents did it and they made it…and such is the case for generations before and generations to come.