The Ends

We all know that everything eventually comes to an end and have experienced it in so many ways. Sometimes an ending can make our hearts happy and sometimes it can break it. And sometimes it can do both. After raising kids for over 18 years, I’ve seen so many things end. The beginning of a pregnancy and all the excitement that entailed, to the end of the pregnancy when although still excitement, the sadness of no longer carrying a baby. All the beginnings of children, like getting their first tooth to taking their first steps to the end when they lose those teeth and are running and jumping like big kids.

Each new beginning is exciting and scary but seems to end before you can believe it. Like the first day of Kindergarten to the last day of Elementary school, jumping back to the beginning with the first day of Junior High and then the first day of High School to the last day, Graduation day. The quickest four years of my life! So excited when it started and so sad when it ended. Now the first day of college and in a few more years, the end of that. And so on and so on....

I know those are the big moments but there are also so many little “ends”. This week became the end of my school drop off hugs. My baby, who’s now in Junior High gradually ended our in-the-car goodbye hugs when I drop her off at school in the morning. Last year, she wouldn’t let me drive away unless she gave me a hug. Now I barely get “Love you” and she darts out the door. Just like that, it ended. Not a big deal in the whole scheme of life, but an end that pricks my mom heart, nonetheless.

I remember the exact age that my older girls stopped having me tuck them in at night and recite the “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” prayer and I’m sure the end of that routine for my youngest is right around the corner. And there was the end of holding hands in the parking lot and the end of me putting their hair in ponytails, or the end of reading books to them at night and snuggling with me on the couch.

But I wouldn’t want it any other way. Without the ends, there would have been no wonderful beginnings and all the amazing moments in between! It’s the way life is supposed to go and I am at peace that all things come to an end and feel blessed to experience it all!

Today will be the end of another chapter for me. Today will be my last column of Motherhood Moments. Five years ago, I took a chance and submitted a few stories to the Gazette and they so graciously offered a spot in the newspaper to share my personal moments as a mom. Writing my columns each week has made me laugh and made me cry, and really put my life as a mom in perspective. I’ve done my share of humiliating my kids and Hubby, as well as myself but I wouldn’t have traded it. I have thoroughly enjoyed being open and honest about what my life is really like and I am glad all these experiences are down on paper. My hope is someday my girls will read through my columns, when they’re moms themselves and remember and relate. Maybe even appreciate some of the crazy chaos we lived through.

But I want to thank you for reading my column over the years and for stopping me around town and sharing your thoughts or your own experiences. It has been a fun ride and a real joy and I am forever grateful for this opportunity! God Bless!

— EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re sad to see Jennifer go, and appreciate the chance to share her observations over the years.