This past weekend, we celebrated my son’s graduation from high school. Like many of you, spring means celebrating milestones – school, sports, activities, and transitions. They are ripe with mixed emotions and embracing all kinds of landmarks. 

As I sat in the sun at Sherwood High School, I kept telling myself, “Soak it all in, Amy, this is it. The only place you need to be is right here, right now.” Two hours early for this event, we sat amongst other expectant families and waited for our senior. In a sea of 400 graduates, I wanted my senior to feel special, seen, celebrated and loved. There aren’t enough words for the heart swell of feelings as he walked in, to the cadence of his classmates, found me waving frantically and shouting his name, and he burst into a huge smile. Tears of joy filled my eyes. Again, when his name was called and I shouted, “We LOVE you Jack!” He walked, waved, and smiled. I hope you’ve all taken time to soak in these moments. They are the moments of our lives.

Here’s my sentiment to all of you: 

Did you cry? 

Crying means you made it.

You made it through early morning drop-offs, late night sleepovers, and deadlines put off until the last minute. 

Crying means you’re excited and scared all at once. 

Crying means that countless little league games, dandelion bouquets, snuggly sick days, and being his biggest fan have all been worth it. 

Crying through skinned knees, riding bikes, making friends, broken hearts, losing and winning all in the same day. 

Crying means you showed up. No matter what, you were there, through literal rain or shine. 

 Cry. 

Cry for the sweet curly-haired, sticky, smudge-faced little boy and cry for the kind, funny, rugged young man. 

Let the tears rain down on your soft cheeks. You were there. You didn’t miss a moment of this beautiful, crazy, faster than you can imagine, moment of his life.

Hugging all of you, in tears of joy.