Monday, July 8, 2013

A Final Love Letter

My column in July's Chicago Parent pretty much took a drink and a slice of pie to get through.  I have a hard time saying goodbye.  But some words just need to be said.

I wiped away tears the whole morning.  Joey laughed and made water balloons. 




14 comments:

  1. Bittersweet... :) :(
    Ahhh...the milestones.

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    1. I know you hear it all the time, but enjoy it! It goes so flippin' fast!

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  2. That was beautifully written. My children never went to preschool, but they both had the same wonderful kindergarten teacher, and I remember her asking when Number 2 moved on to First Grade "Are you sure you won't have anymore children?" because she had loved our kids so much. Now I had my last one out of Middle School. Every time you pass one of the lasts it produces such mixed feelings, pride in their advancement mixed with mourning for what is gone.

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    1. Thank you for your comments, Meg. You nailed it on the head. I'm always sad for what is lost forever, but still delighted for what lies ahead!

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  3. Just wait...*sigh*
    Where DO those babies go??

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    1. I need one more. Know anyone with a spare??

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  4. I get this completely.
    I cried throughout Ellie's whole preschool graduation ceremony.
    Then came home and drank a glass of wine.
    Ok two glasses.
    Ok maybe the bottle was empty by 8 pm.
    I am struggling with her starting kindergarten this fall.
    What is wrong with me???

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    1. Why don't you live closer? We could have drank away our sorrows. And the rest of 2013....

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  5. Ah...so sweet. They really do grow up startlingly fast. Stories like these always make me think of Fiddler on the Roof's Sunrise/Sunset (without the wedding part). Then I bawl. Great...I'm at work. And people are now wondering... :P

    -andi

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    1. Anybody that references a Broadway musical in their comments gets the "Reader of the Year Award." I'd make a badge for you if I knew how to do that stuff....

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  6. Every time my youngest does something for the last time, I get weepy. I mean, she goes away for a week for sleepover camp next week!! How did THAT happen?? I'm going to be a wreck.

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    1. There is something about that last baby. You really do want them to walk around with a brick on their head so as not to grow a single more inch. I'm with ya.

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  7. I was sad, but relieved when I decided my kids were old enough to writ their own end of year "thank you/good-bye" letters. (Of course then I read the letters and cried anyway).We have two years here to prepare our drinks, tissues and SEVERAL pies. xoxoxo

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  8. I can't read this. I get the gist and just know if I read it, I will sob. We already said too early of a goodbye to our school in Georgia and just when we found one we love in Maine, we're switching WHM to better accommodate Mick's work schedule. I'm sick over it. Lots of hugs to you because I'm quite certain we're in a similar place!

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