Michelle Miles: Milestones

I’m supposed to be working on a weekly report and an agenda for a meeting. Instead I’m thinking about milestones and the next phases of life.

My son recently graduated from high school. Don’t we look awesome in this picture? I’m very proud of all he’s accomplished.

People have been congratulating me, which I thought was odd. I mentioned it to my husband. He looked at me like I’d grown a third head. “Am I going to have to explain this to you, really?”

So, he did.

All those times I got him up and ready for school, even when he didn’t want to go.
All those school lunches I made.
All those school functions I volunteered to chaperone.
All those school parties.
All those band concerts/competitions/football games.
All those times I was a shuttle/taxi/chauffeur.
All those birthday parties.
All those school plays.
All those band fees I happily paid for because I knew he was doing something he loved.
All those times I sat with him at the kitchen table and helped with homework. And then when I couldn’t help him, made sure he was turning in school work.
All those times I pushed him to do something I knew he should do because he would regret it if he didn’t.
All those times I bought him school clothes and supplies.
All those times I took him to the doctor/dentist/orthodontist/eye doctor. ALL.THOSE.TIMES.
Most of these things I did by myself because I was a single mom.

And, of course, that’s not all. We are now entering the next phase of his life. He was awarded a scholarship to the community college. He’s enrolled and registered and begins his next adventure in the fall.

As we were leaving graduation, his 4th grade and 5th grade teachers made their way to us outside the convention center and hugged him and congratulated him. I can’t even begin to express how wonderful that was that not only did they remember HIM, but they remembered ME, too. And made a point to find him in the crowd.

What he doesn’t know is that this time in his life is special. It’s fleeting. I’m sure he’ll have some regrets—we all do. He can’t see into the future like I can and that’s okay. That’s part of growing up.

There are many more milestones to come. As we age, we hit different ones. College graduation. Marriage. Deaths. Raising kids. New jobs. Job changes. Hitting those “big” birthdays. I guess I’m feeling nostalgic and a little sad that this phase is over. But you know what? The best is yet to come.

Cherished Memories

Today my daughter turns 14! My baby girl? She can't be. It can't possibly have been 14 years ago that I drove to the hospital with my father for my very organized c-section. After all, I remember everything about that day like it was yesterday.

My husband and I already had our eldest daughter - we were total helicopter parents too. We worried over her, how she was going to handle having a new sister, being separated from me while I was in the hospital (I'd never left her - she was 18 months old) - all sorts of things. To make it easier, my husband stayed with her and my father drove me to the hospital. Once daughter 1 was in bed for nap, my husband would come to the hospital in time to be there for daughter 2. But he ran late... so late that my father was growing paler and paler with every second. He was not hospital operating room material - but I knew he would go with me if my husband didn't make it. When the nurse handed my father scrubs and told him where to change, he straightened his shoulders, patted my shoulder, and told me he'd be right back.

Ten minutes later I was in the operating room and my husband, not my father, joined me. Five minutes after that we were both happily crying a little as our second child, a beautiful baby girl with a full head of hair and reassuringly functioning lungs announced herself to the delivery room.

I remember everything about that day like it was yesterday - not 14 years ago!

It's hard to accept that my baby now plays the viola with skill, reads like she's racing to the next one, loves all things giraffes, and cooking and cleaning (I have no idea where she got her love of cleaning?).

There are memories that are so vivid that I feel like I've been transported back in time, engaging all my senses. And I cherish them, holding on tight so that they don't dim.

I know I'm not alone so share! What's one of your favorite, most vivid, memories?

Thanks for letting me share mine with you. And Happy Birthday Baby Girl! I'm so proud of the amazing young woman you are! You are a gift to everyone that knows you!