18 summers……. it’s amazing how fast they fly.
While I’ve always focused on the setting of my family’s story here on my blog, sharing the design and decor of the spaces in our home, over the years I’ve also given you many peeks at the everyday life happenings that take place within these decorated walls. I actually started this little blog when my son was in kindergarten. And this past May he graduated from high school. It feels like a milestone for him and for Our Fifth House.
This blog provided me with a creative outlet that I so desperately needed during those years in the motherhood trenches when the days felt really long and I couldn’t yet see just how short the years would be.
Many of you have watched him grow and have been around to see the many iterations of his bedroom, from the pegboard headboard and plank wall in Kentucky to the vintage gameboards and teen lounge/bedroom in South Carolina.
Maybe you’ve noticed how slow it’s been around Our Fifth House this summer. It’s because this 18th summer with my boy seemed to be moving at warped speed here in our seventh house, and I just didn’t want to miss a second of this precious time with him before he started his next chapter in college.
Time. It’s the strangest thing. It really does seem to move more slowly when your kids are little. But heads up mommas, once they start middle school the pace seems to quicken. And then one day you’re dropping them off for their first day of freshman year, and you blink and you’re sitting in the bleachers at their high school graduation.
I’m not the first parent to feel this way. And I’m sure I won’t be the last. If you have littles right now, you’re likely thinking there’s no way this can be true. But it is. It’s all true. And you really are going to miss a lot of the things that are driving you absolutely bonkers right now.
All summer long – and this is definitely going to age me, but – all summer long I kept thinking of the lyrics of Aerosmith’s I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing…… I don’t want to close my eyes, I don’t want to fall asleep, ’cause I’d miss you baby, and I don’t want to miss a thing.
If you follow along on Instagram, you know my husband and I moved him into his college dorm room a couple of weeks ago….11 days ago to be exact, but who’s counting? 😉
His dorm room is giving cinderblock chic, no? 😉
He’s so beyond happy. Classes have started, and he’s loving college life. And it makes my momma heart feel so full to see him thriving, but that drive home after saying our last goodbye…….. honestly? It’s the most heart-wrenching thing I’ve done as a mother.
No one tells you how much it’s going to hurt to let your babies fly or how odd it feels for your heart to be so full of joy and equally full of heartache.
But 11 days out, the tears come less frequently, and I’m feeling a little less fragile. I’m starting to see that this next stage of motherhood has a lot of good in store for us…..for all of us. And recently, I was reminded of this quote from my favorite childhood book, Anne of Green Gables.
Anne…….she always has the words I need.
So this may be the end of one of the best books of my life, but it’s also the beginning of one that has me feeling so excited and really hopeful! Because the only thing better than a great book is a great book series.
And I’m planning to treasure this special one-on-one time I have with my daughter before she’s ready to fly!
It seems like all the years from now on will fly by. I think there were only a few days between graduation, college, marriage and precious grandchildren. All These stages are amazing, but wow, they do fly by. Just hang on, the ride is amazing.