Childhood, Family, Favorite Things, Life

When Did The Trees Get So Big?

Kari

As I drove through my neighborhood this morning, I noticed the trees that line the streets.

When did these trees get so big? I thought to myself.

tall trees
Photo by Valiphotos on Pexels.com

A large portion of my time is spent looking ahead — at the road while driving, at the soccer field where my youngest plays, or through the camera lens capturing moments. But today, my focus shifted to the right, to the familiar streets I’ve traveled for years.

When did these trees grow so big?

My oldest daughter just finished her junior year of high school. The year she’s been anticipating since kindergarten has arrived — and the year I’ve been quietly dreading is finally here.

Parenting has a “thick of it” phase — I know I’ve written about it before. I was stressed, tired, overworked, complaining a lot, and often doing the majority of the parenting alone. I hadn’t had therapy and was convinced I wasn’t a good person. Motherhood felt too much at times.

I now regret not cherishing more of those moments when we were in the thick of things. I suspect many parents feel the same.

This morning, as the high school bus passed by, I had a brief reflection on the “kids” who once rode it — the ones who dressed up in our basement, ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on our back patio, traded fruit chews on the driveway. They no longer take the daily bus. I remember when Anna rode it herself, then with friends, and finally driving on her own.

I’ll miss the commotion. The mess. The hustle and bustle.

I know there are many more years of mothering ahead, but this time, I want to take it all in a little more.

Those trees. They grow so quickly.

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18 thoughts on “When Did The Trees Get So Big?”

  1. I long for the diaper days, as they somehow seem less stressful sometimes than being in this new thick of 17 and OH MY GOSH HE WILL BE 20 IN ONE MONTH )oops, was I shouting?) We will be here waiting with open arms, tissues and peanut m&m’s when you return. Soak it in, love them up!

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    1. Aww I know you can relate. I am going to need my mom’s who’ve done this before more than ever next year.
      Love you, my friend.

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  3. ((Stands up and applauds)) Who knew kids grew up this fast? My son graduated on Friday and it was one of the proudest and one of the scariest moments in my life. Have a ball on your summer vacation. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen and don’t eat too many smores (a dozen in one sitting is acceptable). See you in the fall :)

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    1. Oh friend, sending you a hug, booze and a s’more.
      Thank you for reading all of these years.
      See you in the fall. :)

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  4. I thought having a senior would be less sad the second time around. It’s not. Still sad and happy and exciting and terrifying.
    We can commiserate over pie any time you want.

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  5. Kari. I’m moved to almost (almost!) speechlessness. Your writing has a depth to it that I haven’t noticed until now. I like it. A lot.

    Enjoy your Summer. We have been knee deep in adoption papers/visits/and carrying – ons for many months. I disappeared from my beginning to write again because I have a mouth and I didn’t want my writings to negatively impact our future adoptions. But I’m still out here and I’ll update privately on FB as things develop for us. I miss you!! I look forward to your writing as you emerge from your break.

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    1. Friend, I am here whenever you want to write to get the feelings out. If even in an email.
      I miss you too. Have a wonderful summer!

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  6. Oh, Kari. This one hits home and hard. Yes, take the summer off. Soak up all the moments you can. That senior year was a heart-wrencher for me. And there’s nothing you can do but go through it, which I recommend doing with your heart and eyes wide open. Raising a child and then letting her go is such a profound experience, and I feel as if we don’t truly acknowledge that in our culture. Maybe we don’t think it is because so many of us go through it? All I know is that, for me, letting my babies go has been nearly as transformative as their birth was. I’ll be thinking of you.

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    1. You nailed it: we don’t acknowledge that in our culture.
      Thank you for being a good friend.
      I am going to need that friendship even more next year.

      Totally off topic, have you been writing? I haven’t seen any blog posts but am afraid I am missing them. My Bloglovin’ is irritating me.

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      1. No, I haven’t been writing. In February my son decided to enlist in the Marines, and…I don’t know. The past two years have been really hard, and I think a lot of things have been catching up with me. Life’s been coming at me so fast and furious this spring I haven’t had much time to reflect. And the state of the world right now? It’s hard (for me) to know how to best spend the time and energy I have. I’ve been using most of it to take care of my family and connect with them. So, it’s not you (or Bloglovin’). It’s me. :-)

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  7. Beautifully written! My experience has been the complete opposite – I’m so glad those trees are bigger now! The end of the school year must bring up nostalgic feelings for many of us. I wrote about the same thing this week.

    Enjoy your summer! The last summer vacation before senior year is a big deal.

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    1. I am so glad to hear this opposite view! I need to work on being glad that they are bigger and I really think that will come. Eventually.
      Enjoy your summer as well!

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  8. Kari, I loved this post. As someone who has raised and successfully released two offspring into the wild, I can honestly say that I am sometimes struck by the absurdity of wishing they’d get through this phase or that while in the thick of it – it’s the craziest, busiest, just off-the-wall ridiculous times that make me smile. The silly things of laughing at the kitchen table, baking together or just having them gang up on me because I am “me.” I send you much love and just a photographic memory to store the memories of not only the big events, but also of the every day-type simple mundane things. <3

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