Yes, I'll miss this

It’s another year of “lasts” at the Wobbema house. Yes, I realize we are smack dab in the middle of our daughter’s senior year, but reality didn’t set in until just a few days ago.

It all started when a fellow mom of a senior posted a picture of her son on social media last week. That night was the last time he’d play high school basketball on his home court, and she was wrestling with all the emotions that come with it.

I replied that I was fortunate that NR-S was hosting the district girls’ tournament, so I could watch my daughter play on her home court a few more times. Senior night didn’t really faze me for that reason.

Saturday was her last home archery tournament. She was the first of our clan to shoot archery, and had competed in the sport since she was in fifth grade. I didn’t really think about it that day either. My focus was on the camera lens, as I captured shots of dozens of area archers.

Of all things, I experienced all the feels during an away game. On Monday, I witnessed senior night in Pingree, as five M-P-B seniors celebrated their last home game of their high school careers.

There were a few reasons why this particular night stopped me in my tracks. First, it was the last regular season game of my daughter’s career. Second, another senior, Kelsie Belquist, went out with a knee injury in the first half. We watched as our girls came together and showed their drive to compete in her absence.

Third, basketball is the sport that she’s competed in throughout her school years, from youth basketball and traveling leagues in elementary to senior night and varsity tournament play. For years it was her favorite sport, until volleyball took over.

Time doesn’t stop, and there’s not much we can do about it.

The next few months will be filled with lasts, and I will savor them all.

We’re talking about assignments in her last two dual-credit classes, making plans to go shopping for prom dresses for the last time, and leaving the house for the last time as a high school student on her last day of school.

We do still have one more kid at home, but this one’s a boy. In three years, we’ll be experiencing all the lasts for a boy, and for the last time as parents.

I’m soaking it all in, no apologies and no regrets.

The Trace Adkins song, “You’re Gonna Miss This,” comes to mind. The song was released in 2008, while I was pregnant with my youngest. For the first time I can absolutely relate.

You’re gonna miss this,

You’re gonna want this back,

You’re gonna wish these days

hadn’t gone by so fast,

These are some good times,

So take a good look around,

You may not know it now,

But you’re gonna miss this.

Mamas, I know many of you miss the days of littles – the cuddles and the snuggles and checking in on sleeping toddlers.

I really don’t miss the teething or the toddler tantrums, and I wasn’t all that sad when the elementary school days came to an end.

THIS is the season I’m going to miss. Yes, life with teenagers is chaotic and crazy. We’ve put more miles on our vehicles and spent more time worrying than we ever imagined, but this is when we get a glimpse of our children as the adults they will ultimately become.

Conversations at the dinner table are entertaining, as we all share the highs and lows of the day. I appreciate that their friends come to our house and spend time. I don’t even mind the nicknames they have for us, as long as they don’t call me “bruh.”

They do argue and talk back, and they sometimes do stupid things. There are days when I wonder if they were even thinking at all.

Yet, I have thoroughly enjoyed raising our children and leading them on this adventure called life.

As they enter adulthood, I hope they become independent thinkers who are considerate of others’ opinions. I want them to reach for the stars yet stay humble. In the midst of adversity I want them to rise above and never lose that sparkle in their eyes.