Posted on by Belladonna

Seemed More Like A Waterfall

For fourteen years I’ve been a room mom for all of my children.

I’ll explain what that is because some of my readers aren’t parents yet.

ROOM PARENT ~ A parent that will assist the teacher in planning and shopping for the annual holiday party and the end of the year party. This parent will also collect money for the teacher’s end-of-the-school-year gift and teacher appreciation week. During this particular week, the room parent will purchase lunches for the teacher and unique little gifts. But the most important job is, arranging which parent will bring the birthday snacks each month.

That’s just a few of the things we do as room parents. And each year, as the kids mature, the responsibility becomes a little less.

Every year I gave it my all, and through the process, I became good friends with each of my children’s teachers. My kiddos were blessed with some good ones and only two that should’ve hung up their career shortly after they started. But those two can’t and did not ruin the overall enjoyment of learning for my kids.

Over the years, I treated my role as a room mom like a part-time job. I knew the importance for each teacher to have someone they could lean on for all the little details, so they could pour their attention towards what mattered the most…. educating our kids.

Welp, today all that came to an end. My daughter graduated from elementary school. And during her ceremony, I cried like a baby.

We are moving on to our next chapter, and she is growing more independent. And even though I am a proud parent and excited that she is so freaaakin brilliant, I can’t help but be a little sad.

I wish time would slow down and let me soak up my last child. I’m scared to blink. Because I know those middle school years go flying by, and the high school days… Forgetaboutit! Those years go even faster.

So here’s the waterfall part!

My daughter’s teacher began to speak, and she was so passionate about how much she loved our kids and how she’s going to miss them. And then when she said the quote below, she lost it and her tears were completely turned on , and so were mine!

How Lucky I

Am To Have

Something That

Makes Saying

Goodbye So

Hard.

My daughter held my hand throughout the entire ceremony because she saw the tears streaming down my face. I had my ugly cry going, and no matter how hard I tried to stop it, I couldn’t. Before I knew it, my shoulders were slightly going up and down, and my kleenex was a must. My daughter kept whispering, “mom, it’s okay.” She’s so sweet.

And I thank God that he trusted us with this little girl.

Okay, here comes the tears again. Geesh!!!! Please tell me that you all can relate to the joy and pain of your kids growing up.

You could have chosen any blog to read, but you chose mine, and I’m honored!

~Belladonna~

38 Replies to “Seemed More Like A Waterfall”

  1. Oh yes we also had our ceremonial tears and hugs through the years when our kids were growing up.
    The concept of room mom is entirely new to me. You were very busy and I admire the work you put in over the years. The main thing is you enjoyed and now that your beautiful daughter is setting out on a new journey, more independent of you and I know from your expressed feelings and experiences that you will enjoy the coming years too. Standing in a waterfall of tears must’ve felt so good after all these years. Warm hugs.

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    1. Awww thank you!!! It really did feel good. I’m just so darn emotional and my husband holds it together so nicely in front of people. But he lets it out in his office. I just wish I could hold it together.

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  2. Awwhh. Yes, some things can just set us off. I may have had something in my eye when I went to view her HS Grad parade (they did a procession through parts of the campus). I saw my daughter and she spotted me and that I must have been wrestling with an insect in my eye and that was it.
    Enjoy these days. Enjoy all that you can. They are over before you know it.

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      1. Haha, yup, 18 years of memories just got stuck in there amidst the dust 😉
        Awwhh! You can say that you shall not do it again but I will not bet on that 😉 Enjoy these times! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Congratulations to your daughter and her move to middle school, and to her mother for being room mom every school year. That is NOT an easy job: I survived two years with my oldest, then helped a friend when she took over the position the following year. Yes, some teachers don’t make it better. You really have to be selfless to accomplish all they ask you to do.

    But wait until your babies graduate from college, and you realize they really are adults, on their way to a life mostly independent of Mom. I had to grab a gym towel at my oldest one’s ceremony, I was ugly crying all over my best summer dress. It really is a moment to be thankful for, though. It’s a mark of your success as well as theirs.

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    1. Thank you!!! Yes it is a very tough job and test your organizational skills! Paine teachers really do push it with there requests.
      I know when they graduate from college I’ll be doing the ugly cry as well. And that’s a good idea to bring a gym towel. That’s about the only thing that’s sting enough for my waterfall.
      *Note to self… don’t wear a pretty dress because I will definitely get mascara all over it 😩

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  5. Aww, this is so incredibly sweet. You’ve green such a devoted “room parent” for a long time. I could just feel the emotion in the entry. I don’t know what it feels like to be a parent but I’m a big sister, significantly older than all my siblings and watching them grow up and out and get on their own has been extremely emotional. I am sure parenting is probably five times more emotional than that. Congratulations to your little one!

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    2. Thank you!!!! I was talking to my oldest daughter about my youngest moving on and she was so torn up inside about it as well. She felt my pain because she, like you is quite a bit older than my youngest. Sometimes I have to remind her that I’m my youngest parent and not her. So I think you definitely understand and know what I’m feeling. ♥️

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  8. Ah kids in elementary years – just such precious times and it just changes so much. Feels like a different lifetime to me with my younger son now in high school. I totally understand how you feel and the teachers were so lucky to have you as the room parent – so conscious and caring.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you so much!!! I love supporting my teachers. I admire their hard work and drive and I know I couldn’t do it. Those High school years go by even faster.
      It’s hard to keep up and manage your feelings. Blessing to you and your family♥️♥️♥️

      Liked by 1 person

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  10. I try to go to my children graduations and now my grandchildren. My saddest day was taking my grandson Jaden to his first day of school. He didn’t do pre-school and he was crying. I always was his babysitter. Broke my heart. One day later, he was fine. Hello dear Belladonna. If awake. Look at the super moon. It is beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. You are such a good grandfather. I wish my kids were lucky enough to have one in their life. I learned so much from my Grandfather, my husband did as well from his. He practically raised him and my kids were so close to him. He passed away a few years ago and left sadness in all of our lives. Thank you for sharing that story and I wish I could have caught the super moon 🙁

      Liked by 1 person

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