That Ache

       

 Over the weekend we were invited, actually let me rephrase, our 4 year old was invited to a graduation party for his preschool helper. Yes the invitation was to Arlo Stanley + Family. That boy never ceases to surprise me. Anyway, he picked out a bouquet of flowers for both girls, it was a joint graduation party, and made them each a card. He even requested his nice shirt and his hair combed. He was so shy when we got to the party but shoved the flowers in each girls hand and said "gratulations". We then walked around and I noticed how emotional I would get looking at all their pictures and awards.

 See every picture, I saw my daughter staring back at me. One girl was really into dance and running and the other was in to sports and FFA. It was like if you combined the two girls it would be Cece. I looked at their awards and certificates. I looked through their photo albums that their moms obviously put a great amount of thought and effort into. These girls were only born in 1997/1998. That doesn't seem so long ago but really it was 18/19 years ago. However, I was looking at a picture of one of the girls from 2008, the year Cece was born and those girls were only 11/12 and just 7/8 years later here they were graduating and going on to college. 

 I'm glad both of my big kids got to walk around get excited for them and to look at how far they had come throughout the years. Both girls got down and thanked Arlo and hugged him and really gave them a bit of time to show their appreciation. They both are very lovely ladies and I know Taelor, who helped Arlo, was always so patient with him. 

 

 So many things on their photoboards jumped out to Cece; "Oh Mom look, I do that!" or "Look at that Mom, I love doing that too!" and I kept thinking I know babe, I know. I know there will come a day when I will be using all those photos I'm always taking of her and putting them on boards for others to look at. I know that a little girl will walk through and say the same things about her. I know that her Mom will be close by and wishing time to slow down. 

 It's the weirdest thing, that their entire childhood you work so hard to raise independent thinkers, contributing adults, kind and generous individuals to go out into the world and make a life to call their own. However, there is always that strong pull to keep them close, to protect and to hold on to their youth for just a little bit longer. It's forever going to be a tug of war inside your heart. It's that slight ache you must always get use to, it's the sacrifice you make as a parent that you will forever walk around with this ache. It may come and go, it may feel unbearable at times and hardly noticeable at others, but it's forever there and you must wear it with pride.