The difference a school year makes

277 days ago I pulled up to my daughter, Sophia’s, elementary school for her first day of kindergarten.  She was excited, but nervous and asked that I come and wait in line with her.  I held her hand and we waited patiently for the first school bell to ring.  As I walked her inside she gave me a hug and kiss and looked at me for reassurance as she entered her classroom for the first time.

Fast forward 277 days later.  I pull up to Sophia’s elementary school for the last day of kindergarten.  She grabs her back pack, yells a quick bye mom and leaps for the door.  I catch the door with my hand, I yell back what about my hug and kiss? She rolls her eyes with an annoyed look on her face, gives me a quick hug and runs out to meet her friends in the front of the line.

What a difference a school year makes.  When I think back over the past year, I’ve watched Sophia grow physically, emotionally, socially and academically.  Glancing at photos I took, she looks like a shy, unsure little girl on her first day of kindergarten (see pic).  Fast forward to today and she is a mature young lady (see pic).  As cliché as it sounds, Sophia’s first year of school went by in the blink of an eye.

When I close my eyes it feels like a flip-book in my head of reading, writing, math, programs, parties, play dates and then boom, it’s over.  As a busy working mom, I sometimes struggle to just get through the day and get everything accomplished, let alone actually savor some of those school moments.  It’s so easy to get frustrated with your kids over homework, or get upset about the library book that is missing for the fourth week in a row.  But, as I watched Sophia scamper out of my car today, I realized that sooner than later she isn't going to need me for help on her school work, or for those daily reminders to get her tasks accomplished. 

Today was a good reminder that sometimes we all need to slow down and just savor the moments with our kids because 277 days goes by quicker than you think.  I'm going to challenge myself next school year to appreciate all the moments good and bad and to not let it slip by so quickly.  Because in the blink of an eye, another year will be done.