It’s that time of year! Graduation time. Caps and gowns. Ceremonies. Diplomas.
We have a graduate in the family. A preschool graduate, that is. My youngest child finished her preschool career a week ago and will attend kindergarten in the fall. Which means that the Wade family has completed our long history at the sweet and nurturing church preschool in our neighborhood that all three of my children attended. It’s the end of an era and I’m feeling nostalgic.
Since just about any reason is a good reason for this mom to unearth old photo albums (yes! up until four years ago I actually printed out my photos and put them in albums!) I decided to share a few pictures with you. I admit, I enjoy sighing over how cute and small my kids once were and how young and fresh I once looked.
Here’s a photo of my oldest daughter and me on her very first day of preschool, in the fall of 2002:
Notice how elated I look. I’m thinking, “Thank God! For the first time in my mothering career I have a few child-free hours coming my way!” She’s thinking, “Why did mom make me wear a hat? Who wears hats these days?”
Here’s that same girl a few years later, graduating from preschool:
I’m thinking, “Oh, no. Summer’s coming and there will be no child-free hours for months.”
Here’s my middle child on his first day of preschool, in the fall of 2005:
Those are supposed to be shorts. But they look more like clam diggers. And oh. The brand new little boy shoes!
And here he is when he graduated:
He’s thinking, “Mom was so slammed with this new baby that she didn’t take a graduation picture of me at my preschool. I got gypped.”
This is my third child on her first day of preschool, in the fall of 2010:
I don’t know why this photo is so dark and grainy. It was not taken in 1968. I can only assume I had the flash on automatic.
And here we are at her preschool graduation picnic last week:
I’m thinking, “I can’t believe I have a deadline and preschool is ending in the middle of May.”
My babies and toddlers grew up. They grew up.
Here’s a recent picture of the three.
I wouldn’t want to go backward in time. I’m delighted with the fact that I’ve survived motherhood thus far and that the Lord has brought my kids to their current ages and stages. I’m relieved that as of this fall I’ll finally have them all in school. There’s bittersweetness in this graduation out of preschool, however. There always is, isn’t there, in graduations, in good-byes, and in endings? I think it’s because these moments give us reason to look back and remember. To look forward and celebrate. To let the Lord remind us, once again, that He’s moving on, that He’s always doing a new thing.
Here’s my question to you: what is it that you’re feeling bittersweet about this week? And/or do any of you have a ‘graduation’ of some kind in your circle of family or friends this May?
p.s. I’m going to close with something fun! My friend Dani Pettrey and I ran a ‘fill in the blank’ style contest. I’ve posted the three finalists for Dani’s excerpt here at Inspired by Life…and Fiction. I’d love for YOU to vote on your favorite if you have a moment. The winner you help choose will receive a $25 gift card and a signed book!
TGIF! -Becky
Becky Wade
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I just finished my last day of high school yesterday, I know what you mean by feeling bittersweet. I am saddened that it is over, but at the same time, I am so excited to see what God has in store for me in this next section of my life!
How wonderful, Rachel! Congratulations! I have no doubt at all that God has amazing things in store for you.
No graduations this year, but I am now the mother of two seniors – one in college and one in high school! SO not ready for that! BUT, I teach/lead in the Bible study for moms of young children at my church. I feel like every time we meet is a reminder of all that has gone on before in my life. It is a sweet reminder of how far God has brought me and my children in spite of me and my efforts and what a blessing He is giving me to allow me to minster to and give back to young moms! I so needed that encouragement when I was in the middle of “momming” preschoolers!
“It is a sweet reminder of how far God has brought me and my children in spite of me” Yes! I can relate to that sentiment so well, Melissa.
I needed lots of encouragement, too, when I was momming preschoolers. God bless you for leading a Bible study for young moms! I love that God has called us each to a unique ministry of some kind or another. If we’re receptive, He has plans for each of us. 🙂
Oh Becky, your children are precious! 🙂 And I certainly can relate to what you’re feeling – – but just treasure these years (as exhausting as they are, LOL) because before you know it, they’ll all be grown and out of the house. 🙁 I keep thinking that 4 years ago today my BABY graduated from high school (yes, I sobbed at the ceremony). Now he’s a college senior at Ga. Tech, and I’m incredibly proud – – but keep thinking HOW did those years fly so quickly?
But as one season ends, so another begins – – so I look forward to what the Lord has in store for my kiddos (and me) in the future! 🙂 Hugs, Patti Jo
Thanks for the encouragement, Patti Jo! How DO the years fly so quickly? They seem to be speeding up.
Like you, I’m looking forward to the future!
Becky, your children were so young. I couldn’t leave mine that young. I worked full time and I so desperately needed a few hours in a week. But I didn’t get any until each of my sons turned five years old. And even then with my first one I got two hours and a half and with my second one I got one hour and a half on Thursday and Friday. I worked on other days and weekends.
Good for you, Anna! My little ones did start preschool young. They went on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-12 their first year. What works for every family is so varied. In our case, this is what worked. I had some time to myself and they had time with friends and teachers to go to ‘music class’ (oh, the cuteness!) to learn to share with classmates, to do art, to help set the table for snack time, to go to chapel, etc.
Becky, you have three adorable children and I thought the “baby” photos sooo cute, Your littlest one reminds me of the littlest( Gretel) in the “Sound of Music”LOL
I have no family at the moment that are Graduates,.. my girls graduated from University with their degree in Nursing 22 years ago and so did I(longer ago than I care to remember. LOL
My Son graduated 18 years ago and his little boys are in Years 4 and 2 and my two Grand daughters are in Year 8 in Middle school. Our other Grandson has just entered year 6 which is the beginning of his middle school years.
We ‘re now into the next phase with two of our grandchildren completing Year 12 next year and our eldest grandson graduated at the end of last year… six months on, he has turned into a remarkable and caring and responsible young man. I am very proud of him!
I still remember how I felt, when my children went from Pre school, to Kindy, to Primary school. I cried buckets on each of their first day at school and then felt sad when they left their preschool days behind, entering the next stage of uncertainty of what lay ahead, for my precious offspring. I eagerly awaited for the end of the school day to hear all their news. However, it did not take me long to relish my “free” time and I very much enjoyed socialising with the other Mums at coffee mornings. Surprising what one learns at those little “get togethers”.LOL
Loved your post Becky. Ah yes…such precious memories!:)
Thanks for sharing some of your memories with me, Rosie! I loved hearing them. At one point in Meant to Be Mine, Celia’s daughter goes off to her first day of kindergarten. Like you, Celia cries buckets.
It is a bittersweet time! We love watching our kids grow up, but we definitely miss their younger days. It’s also fun seeing them off on a new journey.
This spring has been a big one for graduations in our family. Our oldest graduated from college–it seems she just started last year! And, in June, our *baby* graduates from high school. (sigh). But I’m so excited for their futures! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for them. 🙂
A double graduation year for your family, Brenda! Wow. How wonderful. Congrats to your daughter and son.
Beautiful photos. And it is a bittersweet time of year, isn’t it? Do you wallow or savor? I guess a bit of both. I work in a school (librarian) and we have a wonderful tight-knit staff. Sadly, we have three retirements and a slew of staff changes at the end of this year and that has me feeling bittersweet because I know the dynamics of our school is going to change.
I hear you, Kav. My two oldest children were fortunate to have an OUTSTANDING first grade teacher. Truly outstanding. She retired after my second came through our class. I’m still mourning. 🙂
Funny you posted this today, it was my youngest one’s preschool graduation today! So cute to see her in her tiny graduation cap and gown…and she said she wanted to be a gymnast when she grew up. Then we got home and discovered our camera’s memory card was corrupted and we lost all the grad. pics. I’ll admit I was close to tears, but prayed that we could recover them somehow. Felt silly since it wasn’t a life/death situation but God honored it anyway and we were able to recover half of them. A graduation day to remember. Bring on kindergarten!
You and me, Lis! Both of us celebrating our youngest child’s preschool graduation. I’m so glad to hear you were able to recover the pictures you worried were lost. Bring on kindergarten! We both survived the preschool years!
I could stare at those pictures for a while 🙂 Beautiful children! I think that last picture is my favourite… And your youngest’s smile in the one before that is absolutely priceless. So cute!
I’m graduating from High School next month and a variety of emotions are washing over me : fear, sadness, anticipation, fear…
Your words hit the nail right on the head : ” To let the Lord remind us, once again, that He’s moving on, that He’s always doing a new thing.”
Congrats to your youngest.
I’m late . . .typical. Oh well. Loved this though, as I stepped away from this school year last week. My oldest of four moves into the seventh grade and my youngest finished Kindergarten. Oh goodness, where is it all going–and so quickly? God is certainly teaching me to treasure the moments, which is a slow learn for an impatient girl!
Thanks for giving us a peek into your life off the pages.