One week.
That’s all that’s left before our son graduates high school. 
The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions—pride, excitement, fear, gratitude, and if I’m being honest… a whole lot of overwhelm. Trying to juggle work, other kids’ schedules, the emotional weight of this milestone, and yep, hormones! It has me running on coffee, to-do lists, and a whole lot of deep breaths.
Between the banquets, roommate chats, reserving rooms for Parents Weekend, and checking things off the never-ending senior year checklist, I’m trying to keep it together. (And did I mention I still have to work?!)
Today, I was talking with a friend about pulling out the cap and gown from Lucas’ closet, and I compared the feeling to that final week of pregnancy. That moment when you know there’s no turning back. The day is coming. You can’t skip it. And no matter how “ready” you are, your heart still feels like it’s being pulled in a hundred directions.
The truth? I’ve been carrying guilt around my feelings. Guilt that I’m not only excited—because we are beyond proud of him. Guilt that I should be focusing more on gratitude than on the grief of this chapter closing. Guilt for feeling fear about what life will look like without him here every day.
He’s healthy, happy, ready… but nothing will ever be quite the same.
It takes me back to the beginning (before I even met him) and how nothing could’ve prepared me for motherhood. And just like then, I have to trust that the lessons I’ve learned along the way, the love we’ve poured into him, and the growing we’ve done together have prepared me for this next season too.
I sat with his “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” book today, flipping through notes from teachers and coaches who’ve shaped him. And it gave me peace. A reminder that he’ll carry those values and this village with him wherever he goes next.
To those coming up behind me, here’s what I’ll say:
We didn’t always do what was popular. We didn’t follow the crowd.
We made choices that were best for him…based on our values, our intentions, and the kind of man we hoped he’d grow into.
Parenting is exhausting (even if you have just one kid—it’s exhausting).
And if you’re spending your energy worrying about what other people think of how you’re parenting, you’re missing the point.
You will do all the “wrong” things. And you’ll still get it right.
Just lead with love. Be intentional.
And know that letting go is the hardest and holiest work we’ll ever do. 
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