As I write this, back-to-school season has not quite reached the fever pitch that it will. I’m now on the periphery looking in, merely listening to the hustle and bustle associated with it all.
September never passes without my reflection on the age-old quandary of time’s fleeting nature. “I can’t believe my baby is going to kindergarten,” or “Can you believe she’s going to college?” are common turns of phrase. I was told many times, “You’ll blink and they’ll be all grown up,” but, as with many things in life, until I experienced it myself, it wasn’t relatable.
I moved back to the Mohawk Valley with two small children. After playing musical houses for a couple of years, we settled into a neighborhood and became the new young family. As my children were learning to walk, my neighbors were navigating teenagers.
One of the greatest things about our move back was reconnecting with families I had known who were now raising their own. Some weren’t my contemporaries growing up, but age disparities seem to disappear when raising children around the same age. There were four generations of friendship in my daughter’s kindergarten class.
I love the phrase “the longest shortest day” in reference to family life. When kids are sick and snotty, the days can feel long, but the totality of their time under your roof is short.
Happy Back-to-School, everyone. Enjoy the time.
