Of the milestone moments that demonstrate exactly how fast the kids grow, the perusal of college brochures is a particularly bittersweet one. They're almost there — out of the house, on their own, whether mom and dad are ready (or not). It's a scenario MomSpeaker Shivaun Williams is currently coming to grips with.
(Scene: Our kitchen, last night)
"She's just looking, right?"
Our oldest peeks over a pile of college brochures and paraphernalia as I ask my husband where he was.
'Where was I when?'
Where were you when they had us sign that slip of paper?
You know, the day we gave birth to her and we both signed off, acknowledging that she is, indeed, ours, but only for a while.
That paper that explained, that, like it or not she will one day leave us.
I know you read it. I know we both chuckled at the thought of that tiny newborn one day turning 18.
Both of us pretty sure that a journey of 18 years would feel more like a million.
Both of us so tired from feedings and diaper-changings that the act of looking at colleges sounded like something old people did when they were ready to get their teenager out of the house.
We didn't really think that if we kept feeding, nurturing and educating this tiny baby, she would actually grow up and want to leave.
But we did, and she has. And now we're faced with the fact that by becoming everything we'd hoped she'd be, she is asking for permission to fly. Not today, but soon.
And we? are not ready.
"I don't remember signing anything."
Shivaun Williams is a Bucks County, PA writer and mom of three. This post is adapted from her blog, Dar Liomsa (In My Opinion).
