Another Mom Moment

Hello there! Dana Corbit here. I'm feeling a little sad this morning as I sit at a table in my favorite Biggby coffee shop. I had another one of those "Mom Moments" today as I sent my girls off to the first day of school. (Here in Michigan we start really late.) Anyway, we've all had "Mom Moments," right? The day we put our first or last kindergartner on the bus. The day we walk past Santa at the mall and realize that we no longer have anyone at home young enough to want to scramble up in the Jolly Old Elf's lap. At our house today was our LAST first day of school when I could force all three girls to mug together for the annual picture. Yes, we're THOSE parents who insist on recording these moments for posterity. This one is especially poignant. Next year the first will be off at college - probably thrilled that she won't have to be in a picture - and my husband and I will be telling the remaining two will pretend to like each other for the photo. All I can say is I'm glad I only had a minute to shoot these photos this morning before two had to drive off together and the other had to catch the bus because even now my eyes are burning and my nose is threatening to drip right here in front of the other coffee drinkers and wireless Internet surfers. How did this happen? What happened to my sweet little girls who ran along the beach in their matching red-and-white swimsuits, one still wearing a swim diaper under it? When did playing with Polly Pockets in the basement become driving to work and soccer practice, and when did parent-tot swim class become daily swim practice to perfect the breast stroke? I know. I know. It's supposed to be this way - it's part of God's plan for them to go off and make their own lives - but did it have to happen so fast? Did we have to go from first teeth to braces to smiles in senior pictures without taking a breath? One more year. I can say that today with a sigh of relief. We have one last year to be together as a family before they start flying from the nest one by one. People tell me that when the time comes I'll be ready to push each one from the nest and say "Fly, sweetie, fly," but I'm not convinced. (Pause to wipe my nose.) Better check on me next fall. I might need some comforting.