Jan 11, 2016 3 min read

It was a big week in our house. I missed a lot of it because of a respiratory illness that still has me down, but at least I no longer feel as though I have been run over by a truck.

Maybe a Volkswagen Beetle or a Smart Car, but not a truck.

Hey, that is a win in my book.

Early in the week, my son – my baby – brought home paperwork for me to fill out indicating his preferences for coursework in middle school.

Are you hearing me? MIDDLE SCHOOL. In a few short months, I will no longer have a child in elementary school.

This elementary school in particular has been a part of my life for a long time.

Not only have all three of my children attended this school, but my husband and I did, as well. We have had cause to be in that school for various reasons for several decades.

It has been a great place to have our children, and I am grateful that they all had the opportunity.

But that piece of paper reminds me that this chapter of my life is rapidly coming to an end.

Then, later in the same week, I received another reminder when my oldest daughter came home with paperwork for us to use to order her cap and gown and graduation announcements. It served as a clear reminder that in a few short months, she will no longer be in high school at all.

We also attended her senior soccer banquet yesterday.

Likely to be my last soccer banquet, I was pleased to be present as she received an award for making this year’s all-section team and also for being voted Defensive MVP of her team this year.

But the coach’s words reminded me that I have seen her play high school soccer for the final time.

I also know that I can expect paperwork from my middle daughter soon about her transition to ninth grade.

She will have the weighty questions of whether to take a pre-college track or whether she still plans to go to vo-tech.

(By the way, what was I thinking when I spaced my kids out like this? This is a LOT of transition for a mama to face all at once!)

There is also the work of college paperwork to handle with the oldest.

She has been accepted to several institutions, and she has to make the final decision about where to go. There is a lot to deal with in the coming months.

Maybe it won’t seem so weighty in the weeks ahead.

Maybe this is part of the lingering effects of this illness and it will all seem fine when I feel better. Maybe this is where I have to continue to grow and change and adapt into a better individual.

I honestly don’t know. I just know that it feels awful heavy right now.

Laura Zoeller can be reached at zoeller5@verizon.net.