This year was a year of “lasts.” Last first day of school, last school-wide Mass, last last day of school, and, though I didn’t want to think about it until it happened, my last Parent Ambassadors event. I’ve made friends with these people, and I’ll likely not see them much, if at all, ever again. My son has graduated, and we don’t have anymore kids, let alone boys, to take his place at his school. That means I’ll forever be an Alumni Mom, and not likely ever a Current Student Mom. Of course, things could change. But for now, it’s a last.
There’s always an end-of-the-year wrap up gathering at a local restaurant. It’s casual – you can come in jeans and a t-shirt if you like, but the time is shortly after typical work hours end, and some come in business casual. It’s a time for us to connect as parents and friends, without the formality of being “on” to welcome new parents and students into the fold that is the top Catholic high school in our state.
It was a great time. Food, drinks, and just talking with each other. Another mom there also had a senior who graduated this year, and she said to pass along her congratulations for the honor medal my son won for journalism.
As any good gathering does, it lasted well past its “end time” – 2 hours is never enough when hanging out with this crew. The surprise of the night came at the end, however, when the admissions director presented each of us with a gift for our work this year. I opened it when I got home to find four glass pilsners with the school logo beautifully etched on each.
There are other things in life we don’t necessarily recognize as a last. Several of these “lasts” with my son’s school mean lifelong memories that will mean they are never truly last. What was the end of your schooling or another anticipated end? How did you feel? Was it truly an “end” or have you kept those connections through the years? Let’s talk on Facebook!