Moving On

Ughh.. this has been such an emotional week! Are you guys feeling it as well?! My Facebook feed has been flooded with pictures of happy kids on their last days of school, but on a day that is almost universally seen as one of joy and celebration, I know there are other moms out there like me who are not so excited.

I tried to post this the other day, but I couldn't keep the tears back long enough to write it all out, so let me try again.

Brennen has officially completed Grade 6 at Mary Queen of Peace Elementary School, and will be heading to junior high in September - that means moving to a new school with new teachers, different assistants, a new learning environment and a whole lot of adjustment, for everybody. While we are full of thanks and gratitude for the wonderful teachers who have loved and supported him over these past seven years, we are unsure of what the future holds, and it is a little bit (ok, a lot) terrifying. I have been having a really difficult time with it, so for the sake of this post, I will try to focus on the positive and keep things light!

Earlier this week, we attended his School Leaving Ceremony, and I managed to hold it together, for the most part!

Brennen has had a wonderful school year, and we are so very proud. 

My heart was full as I watched him receive his certificate of achievement along with his classmates.

I just can't even begin to express how fortunate we have been to have had such wonderful teachers and student assistants looking out for Brennen for these past seven years. You ladies know who you are, and I want you to know that what you have done for our boy is appreciated. Your hard work and dedication to your students does not go unnoticed. You think about our children even outside of school, and that is impressive. You have been with us in the hospital after surgeries, on the field during baseball games, and right by our side for community fundraising events. You have become not just our friends, but part of our family. We have crashed your field trips because we love spending time with you, and your names are spoken in our home on a daily basis.

You have made a significant difference in our lives, and we have noticed every single effort you have taken to support and to love our boy. Brennen has had such a positive experience at school, and it is because of you. You have not only included him, but you have made him feel included (and there is a difference). You believed in Brennen, seeing all of the potential that he holds, and you have instilled in him a sense of worthiness and a sense of belonging in a school environment where he is recognized and celebrated for who he is. Brennen has flourished in your classroom, and it is because of the way you have nurtured and supported him, teaching him with the love and kindness he deserves, without fail, over these last number of years.

New beginnings scare the crap out of me, I'm not gonna lie. I wish I could say that I was a free-spirited adventurous type, but when it comes to my child and his future, that is just not the case. I want to know what's happening. I want to know that he is going to be safe, and that he is going to be welcomed and valued and loved, wherever he goes.

I don't know what the future holds for Brennen - or for any of us, really - but I can reflect on the positive experiences he has had at school and the relationships he has built along the way, and that makes me hopeful. While I can't control everything that happens in our lives, I am comforted by the foundation that's been laid by some truly remarkable teachers, and that is an incredible gift.

Thank you, once again, for all that you have given to Brennen, and to our family. On many occasions you have calmed my mama heart with your kind words and comforting smiles, and I will keep those moments with me as we move forward. Thank you for being part of our journey. xo