And The Tears Began To Fall

It was inevitable. I knew it was going to happen, it was just a matter of when it would happen. I'm talking about tears. Tears of sadness. Tears of joy. Tears of pride. Tears for what is being lost, yet what is just beginning. Tears of a mom who has to admit her babies aren't babies anymore. Instead they are grown women. That's a hard one to swallow.

We had another of the "lasts" last night. The very last high school concert. Unfortunately, due to our stupid (yes I said it) school scheduling, Ashley and a few other very musically talented kids are not able to be in vocal and/or band any longer because they have to take other classes required for college. So, except for 1 term last year, Ashley has been in band and vocal since 5th grade. She wasn't able to be in it this past semester and therefore gets no recognition as being a senior in either one. Another boy has been very active in both since 5th grade, but couldn't be in it just this past term, and he gets no recognition. That's wrong in my opinion. But, I'll save that for another time.

I love the Spring concert. It's always my favorite. Not because of what they sing or play, but because of how they look. The girls wear formals....most wear their prom dresses. They all look so pretty! Here's Chelsea during the vocal part of the concert. Unfortunately their instructor doesn't pay attention to height when placing kids, so this is usually the best shot I can ever get of either of the girls (notice Min-Ji, our foreign exchange student from Korea in her traditional formal dress):

During the concert, one girl sang a solo: "In my Daughters Eyes" by Martina McBride. If you were reading this blog back in March, I posted that song on Ashley & Chelsea's birthday. It's a beautiful song and I wish we'd had warning it was going to be sung, because I'd have brought tissues. The girl herself choked up at the end. The song normally ends with "I'll be right there, in my daughters eyes". She changed it and ended the song with "I'll be right there, in my mothers eyes" and said "Thank you to all moms for being here". I lost it. Yep, right then and there. I wanted to run up and hug Chelsea, but I knew that wouldn't go over very well. LOL So I sat there, with many other moms wiping away silent tears.

After they finished singing, they did the senior recognition:

When it came time for the band, the 9-10th band played a couple of songs, and the 11-12th band played a couple of songs.
It was amazing to watch when the entire 9-12th band plays. For example, I love to watch Chelsea play. She is among the top clarinet players in the band, so she has the hardest music. Her fingers fly during some of those songs. When Ashley played, she was the same way. It always impresses me because I can't even read music. I would look at the 9th grade kids playing, and at times their fingers weren't moving much at all. And then I'd look over at Chelsea playing. The difference was incredible. It made me stop and think how far she has come from those first squeaks in the living room back in 5th grade, to a talented musician with the flying fingers. Wow!

Before the 9-12th band began to play, the school board recognized all kids who had participated in state winter competitions. From our talented group of speech kids, to our first ever state wrestling champion. Ashley was recognized with her group who went to state for speech.

It was a big group for all kids getting recognized, so it took a little while to get through them all.

So now it's over for them...and us. This was the last of the lasts. No more concerts, no more freezing our butts off at cross country or track meets. No more plays and musicals. No more basketball games, dance competitions, and endless road trips to countless events. And for them...no more high school.

Yesterday was their last day. They cleaned out their lockers and piled the remainders of their high school careers into their cars. They brought home their student files which contain papers that go all the way back to kindergarten. Think that brought any tears to mom? They also brought home their caps and gowns. Ashley took out her mortar board and put it on. If watching your daughter put on a bridal veil is as hard as watching her put on her mortar board, I'm in big trouble. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Where was my baby? Where was my little girl? I'm not sure I'm ready to let go. Can I take a rain check?
I need to go get more tissues.