Graduation Day For The Baby

Photo by The Boy

Thumbs up!

I'm out of here.

Parenthood is filled with many ironies. How can such a happy day be so terribly sad as well? Like this morning for instance. This morning The Baby graduated from the developmental pre-K program she's been attending. Oh, how I wish she could have stayed forever rather than transferring to public school. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. This is the same pre-K that The Teenager went to over 14 years ago. All four of The Teenager's teachers are still there. That should tell you about the heart, soul and dedication found in this program and the people who make it so special. I will miss all of them terribly.

I told The Baby's teachers it was going to be sad not seeing them anymore since The Baby is the omega child of our family. The teacher replies, "Isn't that what you said when the teenager graduated 14 years ago?" Yikes. And yikes, again.

Photo by The Boy

So here she sits waiting for her name to be called to receive her diploma and when it is, the physical therapist states to the good-sized crowd, "The Baby will be walking to receive her diploma." WHAT?

Break out the hankies and click to enlarge the next three shots paying careful attention to the looks on the faces of the adults. I am not exaggerating when I tell you the crowd went wild. The applause and shouting from parents in the rows behind me was thunderous. I was blubbering like a baby wiping away gallons of tears with the one thing I could find. The paper towel I had just wiped the floor up with when The Boy spilled my coffee.


Each precious child was introduced with a laundry list of their strengths and gifts. Some were mother hens. Some fabulous dancers. Some helpers. And The Baby's gift?

Her smile. Of course.