This past weekend began a very exciting period for my husband and me.  All four of our children are graduating this spring. My daughter and step daughter graduated college this past weekend. My other daughter and step son graduate high school in June.

The overwhelming emotion my husband and I are feeling is pride. With respect to our older children, we are proud of their accomplishments while in college and their choices in pursuing post-graduate education. We are even proud of their smaller achievements, such as learning to “clean” their apartments and do their own laundry. Although, with respect to laundry, I was never really certain whether they really did learn to do laundry.  Rather, I believe they learned to purchase enough clothing so they could avoid doing laundry until they came home for visits when my husband or I could do it for them.

As for our younger ones, we are eagerly anticipating their graduation from high school in June. First we will attend Senior Awards Night, to which they both received an invitation, to see what honors they will receive.  We are so very proud of all they achieved in high school and delighted that they will each be attending the college of their choice.

Coupled with the pride, however, is a growing sense of melancholy. As I watched my younger daughter be fitted for her prom dress, I briefly remembered her as a first grader spinning for me in her “twirly dress.” As everyone told me at the time, the years went by very quickly. And lately I find myself wishing that time could just slow down a little bit.