12 years ago, when the twins started kindergarten, I remember seeing  a certain type of post come across my then much more limited social media platforms.

The articles were telling me how to cope, how to deal, how to say good-bye to their baby-hood and not lose myself in a pool of tears and sadness that they were growing up as they started their first day of school. And how it was going to be very hard for me.

But the thing is, I didn’t have tears and sadness. I was PROUD of them and excited FOR them. They, my youngest 2 children, were headed into their futures just as their brother had done before them. After all, didn’t we have children to raise them into more than children? Wasn’t that the goal?

I truly didn’t get it and I thought it was me, or because I had twins, or maybe I just wasn’t a very good mom or didn’t have the right kind of heart or something?

But now, I’m there again.

Senior year is over half way over and their future is looming large in front of them and the articles are coming again, this time with titles like “How To Deal With Your Grief Over Your Graduating Senior”. And again, I’m having a hard time relating.

I hope, if you’re a regular reader, you know that I am not condemning any mom who IS feeling that way. I actually think that may be more normal.

I’m just so stinking excited for them. For their future and for the work I know they’re going to do. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but things are kind of a mess, and I have all the confidence in the world that this next generation can and will make a difference!

And, dare I say, I’m excited for ME and for Scott! Oh the places we’ll go! We have spent 22 years of our lives raising children, ya’ll.  That’s A LOT OF YEARS. We have an entire half of our novel left to be written and filled with adventures, some of which will include our children and their future families, some of which which include new friends we’ll make and new places and . . . sorry, getting carried away.

Of course I wonder if Scott and I have done all we could for them? But Good Lord, who the hell ever knows? We all just wake up and do the best we can and although I KNOW their childhood wasn’t perfect, I also know that they had love, compassion, grounding and a fairly decent education. They know how to pray, how to fight, how to say I’m sorry and how to love. How to dress for a job interview and how to interact with strangers at a cocktail party. How to make spaghetti and even a birthday cake. And that counts for something, right?

But before they can fully launch,  we need to get them educated, they need to all go work at Taco Bell or something for a bit (you know, to get that real life job experience), and then they’ll be ready to get on with it. And I couldn’t be happier for them, or for us. Because the future is bright.

So, if you’re like me, and will be attending the Ya-Hoo breakfast instead of the Boo Hoo one (don’t worry if you didn’t get that joke), just know you’re not alone. And that no, we may not be normal. But at least we’re honest.