The start of summer heralds the end of children-sized eras. Whether they are graduating from preschool or college, this time of year is filled with goodbyes, celebrations, and the beginnings of new adventures.  Children close the doors on small chapters of their lives and move on to the next Big Thing. Driving through the streets of my small town, I see evidence of these transitions all around me – a group of high school seniors posing for prom photos on someone’s front lawn, soon-to-be Kindergartners touring the schools they will attend in the fall, high school graduates discussing college choices with friends over a latte at the local coffee shop, cars decorated in school colors and sporting window paint that says, ‘Class of 2011.’

My daughter is only seven and graduating from the first grade, but I know that her high school graduation is only moments away. I can almost see the years we have not yet lived flashing before my eyes. I have visions of her going to the beach with friends, performing in a school play, maybe getting the winning goal at a lacrosse game. I imagine the glow she will have on her first prom, her first date, after her first kiss. I feel my heart ache over broken friendships, confidence crushing disappointments, and the fallout of young love gone awry. I burst with pride over academic accomplishments, and – more importantly – accomplishments in kindness and empathy. I smile to think of all the small moments of pure silliness that will send her and her friends into hysterical laughter for no reason. I remember wistfully what it felt like to be invincible – ready to take the world by storm.

My daughter is only seven and graduating from the first grade. I don’t know if she will be in the school drama club or join a sports team. I have no idea who her friends will be and she certainly doesn’t have any suitors that I know of. I do not know what kind of student she will be. I cannot truly foretell what elation and heartbreak will befall her over these years. I know nothing of these years to come and yet I literally buzz with the intensity of all the hopes and fears that I have for my little girl. I know the road will not be without its speed bumps, but I feel a fierce hope that it will hold many joys, true love, and much laughter.

I look around me, see all the other journeys winding through these early summer days, and am overwhelmed by the immensity of life. Each child is on a path that is both the same and so different from those of all the other children. From the tiny babe just learning to be away from mom for an afternoon to the young adult heading off to college and a new and independent life, each child is still just a child in mom’s eyes. These kids are graduating every day – learning new things, taking new steps, becoming the people they are meant to be.

And we moms are graduating, too. We are learning how to let go, step back, trust that we’ve done our job, believe that our babies are ready for whatever comes next. We are growing into the moms we hoped we’d be – strong, supportive, loving. We will stumble. We will overstep the bounds of privacy or embarrass our kids in front of their friends or miss the signs of trouble on the horizon. Our children will stumble, too. They will keep things from us, lose their way, or make bad choices that will bring unwanted consequences. It’s okay. When they stumble, we will be there to pick them up.  When we stumble, they will help us dust off and keep going.

So, in this season of tearful endings and exciting new beginnings, take a moment to savor the beauty of inevitable change. It’s true that nothing stays the same, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. We are here to grow and to help our children grow. Change is the catalyst for that growth.  Embrace it with enthusiasm, joy, and hope. That is the best graduation gift you can give.

Image Credit: Steve Schnabel