The time that I have been dreading since my girls were babies is finally here. No one told me back in those days how difficult it would be to have my girls grow up and go out on their own. I could never imagine waking up in the morning to find them not sleeping in their bedrooms, or rushing in the door to share one of the many exciting things that happened to them that day. Reality set in last Friday when we went shopping for prom dresses.
Shopping was always our special time together. Since the girls could walk, we would take shopping trips, they would pick out their outfits and then come home to model them for their dad. He would make his fatherly comments about "keeping the boys away from his beautiful daughters" and I would sit and smile, enjoying every moment of the fashion show. This time was no different, but yet it was.
We spent hours in the store trying on different dresses. Summer had a hard time finding a dress that fit her properly. She has lost weight due to a seizure medication she is taking, so she would find a dress she liked, try it on and then have to search for something else because it was too big. Finally, she found the perfect dress, which matched her personality perfectly. Autumn found two dresses immediately, loved them both, and then couldn't decide which one to buy. She sat holding both dresses the entire time Summer was searching for hers but couldn't decide. She asked for my opinion, which I quickly gave considering one cost $30 less than the other. She then took pictures of both dresses and sent them to all of her friends asking for opinions. She was still undecided until the last text message came in, from her dad. He preferred the black one. I called him and told him about the price difference, but that didn't matter; he preferred the black. After that, so did Autumn. Of course, we had to find matching shoes and jewelry and then, the perfect end to a shopping trip; we stopped for a treat.
All the way home in the car, the girls excitedly chattered about their dresses, the prom and how they couldn't wait to get home to model for their dad. Even at age 18, the opinion of Daddy is still important to them. When we got home, they quickly ran into their rooms to change into their new attire. One at a time they slowly walked down the stairs waiting for Dad's comments, which of course, he made right on cue. This time, however, it was different. As I watched those beautiful young women walk down the stairs, reality struck with the fact that soon they would be leaving our home and going out on their own. A tear came to my eye as I realized that this was the end of an era; all of my little girls were grown up. I've already had one "leave the nest" as they say, and now it was time for my "baby girls" to do the same.
I know our lives will never be the same again. They will be making their own way in the world going to college, finding jobs, husbands and eventually children; and my husband and I will be rekindling the relationship that we started 22 years ago before our babies were born. Of course, there is the "parents of the bride" role that we still have yet to enjoy, and the ultimate experience of being Gramma and Grandpa will once again change our lives forever.
We as parents, still have so many new and exciting things to do with our now adult family, but somehow I still long for the days when we all snuggled in our bed together, tickling and giggling with each other, and when I was just as big of a part of their lives, as they were of mine.
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