He Didn't Look Back
A few years ago I made this layout of my son as he left for school on the first day of fifth grade. 
I titled it--You Didn't Look Back--the journaling reads...It was the first day of fifth grade. You wanted to walk to school with your friends. You didn't need me to walk with you or drive you to school. So, I took pictures, gave you a hug and told you to have a great day. You brushed a kiss on my cheek and said "goodbye Mom" in a hurry giving a little wave over your shoulder as you walked away. You didn't look back. You seemed so independent and sure of yourself as you quickly hiked off to school. I watched you from behind and I couldn't help but get tears in my eyes. For it was at that moment I realized you were growing up. Each step you took as you walked away was one more step towards becoming a young man and one less step from being a little child. Well, I had another one of those moments this Saturday when my son left to go to Maine with his girlfriend and her mom. My son is now 15...almost 16, and my heart wrenched again as I realized he was growing up some more. Here this young man was leaving his mom and family to venture out into the bigger world and I was no longer the most important woman in his life. He walked out the door to enjoy his time with Kaitlyn and he didn't look back--I guess this is how it should be, but my heart aches a bit just the same.
