Mother of a 4th grader

So it is the second day of school today. William and I have parked down the street from the school each day and walked to school. Each day he has made sure to walk a little in front of me to show me his independence. Today as we were walking to school I took a picture of him and then started to think back. Just the other day I was telling someone about his birth. A difficult birth and then a difficult first 6 months, but then just the pure pleasure of raising a wonderful, beautiful child. He truly has been the joy of mine and David's life. I know all parents say it, but I really can not imagine life without him. So as I reflected today on that walk to school, random memories flickered through my mind's eye. His first steps, which he conveniently waited until both sides of the grandparents were present and uncle and aunt too. In front of us all he took those first steps on Christmas day. Then an image of him in a bunny suit that my mother insisted he weMar. A vision of him crawling up in my lap and looking up at me and smiling. Hugging his dad's neck on the first day of kindergarten. William running on the beach in Hawaii, the look of achievement after walking through a lava tube, and the shear look of panic when he got into the shark cage to view the shark's off the coast of the North Shore. A crooked smile when showing the pizza creation he made when staying with Poppa and Grandma in England. The pure laughter as he road his four wheeler next to Grandma in Louisiana in her power chair. William and his friends in a hummer limo clowning around, giving me a future glimpse of them at homecoming and prom, as they rode back from his 9 year old birthday, that was on 9-9-09. The sense of satisfaction as he overcame his fear of heights, because his goal of spitting off the top of the Eiffel tower was greater. His wonderment as we road the Metro everywhere instead of climbing in and out of a car in Paris. William and Patrick sitting alone in Twisted Root Burger talking to each other and enjoying their meal as their mothers looked at them in amazement that they had grown up so fast. How quickly 10 years have passed. For all you mother's of younger children, cherish every moment and realize that one of the most important things in life is that little one and you sharing as much time and yourself that is humanly possible with them. Before you know it you are staring at a 4th grader who is walking ahead of you to show his independence and who in very subtle ways and sometimes not so subtle ways informs you that he can do it himself, thus reminding you that you are needed less and
less in his everyday life, but secure in the fact that he loves you and in some form or another will always need you.