Milestones

Some readers will completely get this blog and others will not have a clue with regard to what they are about to read, at least not until they experience it for themselves. Some might say that I'm being whiny and, in some ways, they will be correct. BUT this is my blog so I'll whine if I want too! I would prefer to call it sweet reflection and sudden reality.

When the decision is made to have children the planning begins, the big news arrives, a baby is on the way AND even more planning starts. Dreams and expectations culminate in the precious birth. THEN, there are the milestones. As parents, we measure everything in our child's life by "firsts." First steps, first words, first tooth...I could go on and on with the firsts. I have been blessed with two daughters so I have gotten to experience all the firsts twice!! 

My baby girl will be moving to college soon. Therefore, I have really been reflecting on the last 18 years or rather the last 22 since that is the age of my older daughter. Through all of the reflecting, something occurred to me and I almost stopped breathing. There are no more firsts. Well, almost no more. As their mother, the only really big milestone left for me to experience with my babies is to see them get married and start families of their own. There are a couple of firsts other than that but they aren't the biggies in comparison. 

I suppose the silver lining is that once my girls have their own children I will have the pleasure of seeing them experience the firsts with their babies. Hence, the circle of life. Did I mention that I'm feeling extraordinarily old tonight?