J. ANNE

Six years ago, when I was pregnant with Hudson, I thought about his birth. I thought about his first words. I thought about his first steps, his smile, his little tiny hands. I thought about what it would feel like to hold him for the first time. I thought about the sleepless nights, sleepovers with his friends, our first dance at his wedding. I wondered what he would decide to become, who he would marry, and how many grandchildren I would have one day. I thought about keeping him safe. Teaching him how to ride a bike, to safely cross the street, and how to tie his shoes.

For some reason, some of the best things that have happened during our time together were never things that I imagined experiencing. The things that flew below my anticipatory radar are the things that make me love him the most. Never did I try to picture what he would look like the day that he graduated preschool. Even further… I never imagined how adorable it would be to watch him cling against the doors leading into the auditorium. Refusing to enter with his classmates. I never thought that I would have to carry him to the stage and place him in a chair and put his cap on for him because he refused to let his teacher. He didn’t sing a single song, nor walk across the stage to get his diploma.  Yet, I have never been more proud because I never knew that I would sit next to his dad and whisper with him about how cute our first son looked sitting on that stage… biting his fingernails.

Today he sat on his graduation stage with his cap placed firmly on his head. And he received his diploma from his teacher… telling him that he’s ready to grow up just a little bit more.

I never thought that his preschool graduation was going to be such an amazing moment, but today was wonderful. His dad and I watched on with huge smiles on our faces and hearts bursting with pride.

Today we saw the very first graduation cap that will sit on his head, and I’m guessing that I am just as proud of him today as I will be when I see the last graduation cap.

Now, Hudson… if you and I can just conquer our fears of your first day of kindergarten… xo.