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Inside Out

The last summer

Jeanne Sager
Posted 8/30/22

If you've read this column over the years, you might be familiar with the feelings of angst that begin to rise in my stomach around this time of year.  

As the nights begin to cool and …

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Inside Out

The last summer

Posted

If you've read this column over the years, you might be familiar with the feelings of angst that begin to rise in my stomach around this time of year. 

As the nights begin to cool and leaves begin to crisp, I'm faced with the reminder that school will soon return and with it my child's daily departures from our home. 

Between their summer job and teenage social life and my own work schedule, summers are not exactly "together time" but there's a rhythm that's built in the day to day and morning or afternoon encounters in the kitchen or living room are a source of joy for me as a parent who actually enjoys spending time with her child. 

The return to school means these chance encounters will once again cease and long stretches of time will go between sightings. 

That's been hard enough in years past. 

But this school year is to be our last with a child sharing our roof, the last meet the teacher night, the last school concerts, the last year of afternoon pick-ups from after-school curriculars, and the last proudly proffered report cards.

These last few days of summer are, in many ways, the beginning of the end. 

Talking in recent weeks with friends whose own children have flown the nest this year has been both hard and heartening. 

They're sadly mourning the life that was while also quietly finding pride in the knowledge that the did what they'd set out to do: Raise strong, independent members of society who have proven themselves capable of moving on to the next stage of life. 

They've made me realize I can sit around mourning the summer that has gone or I can choose to treasure each and every day we have left. 

There are 6 days until that school bell rings on senior year. 

I won't let a second go uncelebrated. 

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