Back in October, I wrote about what I thought was my first and last Senior Night experience. “First” because my older son was a high school senior in 2021 and COVID ruined everything, including sports senior nights. “Last” because I knew my youngest, a current high school senior, wasn’t playing a winter sport (he stopped playing basketball the year before) and doubted he’d play a spring one because, well, senioritis.
Apparently, I’m a liar because here we are again, at Senior Night … But this time, it really was our last one.
O’s return to lacrosse after a three-year hiatus was a bit of a surprise — as duly noted on this blog back in March. So this spring sports senior night was unexpected and definitely bittersweet.
With possibly only a few days left (or weeks, depending on how playoffs go), O’s high school athletic career — and therefore, my time on the sidelines — is really almost over. And with graduation looming in less than a month, high school itself is almost over. It truly is the end of an era … For both of us, because he’s my youngest.
I’m sure this won’t be my last “last” post, so strap in and get ready. After all, we still have to get through prom, senior stroll, senior dinner, senior awards, senior car parade, and whatever else is crammed in before graduation. But at least a month from now, you’ll get a year-long respite until H graduates from college next year and I start this whole “last” series over again.
Now THAT I am NOT ready for!
To all the mamas struggling emotionally with these “lasts,” remember that it’s a good thing. It’s sign that we did our jobs well and our kids are ready to move on to the next chapter. And if that doesn’t help, think of the alternative: Your kid could fail to launch and live in your basement playing video games until he (or she) is 40 — and nobody wants that!
Be proud that it’s ending because it means a new beginning is just around the corner.
— LJDT
