The first day of school is always special, Kindergarten through High School makes no difference. It's always fresh, always new and heralds the return to normal routines. Kids, as kids, don't realize that first day back is a bag of mixed emotions for their parents. Is there a parent out there who doesn't mark the growth of their child, and their childs' advancement toward the edge of the nest by the grade they're in? As each new school year starts, it does so in a whirl of the bitter sweet that is life.
The day my oldest child started Kindergarten I cried, then hurried home to tell my one year old he could never ever grow up. He grew anyway, like his juice was laced with Miracle Grow. That day I decided I to make the first day of school extra special for all of us. I baked homemade chocolate chip cookies. Did so every year after that too. Yesterday I baked my 24th, and FINAL, batch of First Day of School Cookies. Yesterday, my youngest child, last one still in the nest, began her Senior year of high school - Seniors need cookies too. Only this year, I think, Mom needed them more. Bitter and Sweet.
I allowed myself a few minutes to grieve the passing of my young ones, then spent the rest of the day taking joy from the tradition I was able to give my children - and myself - these last 24 years.