Everything must change
Nothing stays the same
Everyone will change
No one stays the same
The young become the old
And mysteries do unfold
‘Cause, that’s the way of time
Nothing and no one goes unchanged
Those are lyrics to a song called Everything Must Change by James Ingram. The words have always rung true for me and have echoed in my mind the last couple of days because my daughter is transitioning from elementary to middle school.
This school year has blown by at record speed but, I’ve taken moments to stop, and think about my kids; what they’ve learned and how much they’ve grown. I have thought about all the milestones that, have led my daughter to the end of the elementary school years.
At home I’ve walked over to the bookshelf to pull out a photo album or two, to look at pictures. Other moments, I swipe through pictures on the computer, to bring me back to the place, when my kids were just babies because, change has happened and they are babies no more. Each picture feels like a snapshot from a point in time; a reminder of how we got here and where we go next. Where did the time go? I remember the moments like sleeping through the night the first time, potty training, learning to walk, saying ABC’s and counting 1 to 15 for the first time, nights of 102° temperature, play dates at the park, the first days of daycare to the first school field trip, soccer, ballet, basketball, karate or first report cards with all A’s. Then I remember the moments when they’d rather hang with their friends but, want Mommy nearby and not too close, then the I want to wear what I want to wear because my friends are doing it too, and the I know it all and you know nothing. The list goes on and on.
On the last day of school, I’ll proudly watch her walk down the hallways as the school’s students throw confetti and say goodbye to all the 5th graders. I’ll probably be boo-hooing like a baby but, I’m excited because she’s moving on to new experiences and because I’ll get to watch my youngest child do the same thing soon. So elementary school life is not totally over.
I’m looking forward to middle school. Our family needs the change. Change will create more milestones for my family and without change life would be boring. Change keeps us alert, forces experiences and growth. Sometimes I try to resist change but, I’m learning to allow it, because change is going to happen regardless… I can’t stop change. For now I embrace it to become a part of it.
© 2016 by Allura Eshmun