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Callie R. Feyen's avatar

From a mother who is anticipating and feeling all of this, thank you for sharing your story. I think I'm going to need to plan a "firepit with Hadley" night very soon. I'm happy she's going. I don't want her to go. She has to go. This is all so hard and right.

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Allie King's avatar

😭♥️ Beautiful, Sonya. I loved reading this. My oldest will go to kindergarten in the fall, and I already know I’ll be the crying mom wondering how all the other moms are holding it together.😅

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Chelsea Powell's avatar

With my oldest entering 4K this fall, I cried reading this. It all goes so fast! She currently rides her bike in our driveway and waves to me, pretending as she says “Bye Mom! I’m off to 4K! Have a great day!” She’s ready and excited like your daughter was. And yet, I find myself crying at those real estate commercials where a happy couple envisions their future in the new home and sees their children driving away to college. My husband laughs sweetly, reminding me that’s far from now. But is it?! Oh, how I love your writing, and the beautiful idea of a fire pit and showing how “I’ll be there for you always” looks like practically. I pray I remember to do this 12 years from now 🙏

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Becky Morquecho's avatar

You always make me cry, Sonya. Beautiful storytelling. You're a good, good mom <3

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Brooke Shorey's avatar

What a beautiful post.

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Erin Mount's avatar

This is so so lovely. I’m so glad Nadia was sad to leave. That’s the sign of a good year! My oldest starts high school in the fall, and already I am thinking of all the things I want to make sure she knows before she leaves. I know it will come so fast. Thank you for sharing this.

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Lindsay Sledge's avatar

My kids’ elementary school holds a Yoo-hoo, Boo-hoo breakfast every year on the first day for kindergarten parents. I was definitely in the Boo-hoo category and wondering how everyone else was holding it together! Loved this and am so glad you survived the first year of college! Hurray!

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Emily E. Bennett's avatar

What a beautiful story to read. Thank you for sharing it. My sons are “far” from this moment, but I know it will be here before I know it 🥲

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Alyssa Silvester's avatar

Thank you for writing. You have a beautiful gift you steward well. My son finished kindergarten on Friday, and I cried at both dropoff and pickup. I cannot imagine the complex emotional I’ll be managing in 12 years. Being a mother. ❤️

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Laura Bass's avatar

😭😭😭Beautiful, Sonya. I’m still several years away from this stage but that didn’t stop me from feeling all the feels reading this! Love the fire pit idea—tucking that away for the future.

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Marena Weisman's avatar

My oldest just finished Kindergarten. I cried reading your essay. Thank you for sharing yours and Nadia’s story.

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Anna Shane Stadick's avatar

Such a sweet beautiful essay!

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Katie Blackburn's avatar

You did, friend. With no roadmap of your own to look at, you did. Proud of you and Nadia. To more firepits, whatever the occasion!

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Kendra Kruckenberg's avatar

Officially calendaring a fire pit night with each of my kids for 10, 13, and 15 years from now. What an amazing, incredibly special idea! I cried my way through this whole essay, even though I can only personally relate to the kindergarten side of things right now. Thank you for such beautiful, honest writing!

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Tavia's avatar

Your writing is a gift. My oldest is heading into her senior year this fall, so I’m already anticipating all those firsts and lasts, all those feelings. Your words bolster me. Thank you.

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Stacy Bronec's avatar

As always, you make me feel all the feels. My husband and I were chatting about sending a kid to college a few nights ago (even though we are still years from that age), and we both recalled how we drove ourselves (hours away) to college, and that our parents didn't drop us off. I told my husband that I would be dropping the kids off at college, checking out the dorm room, meeting the other kids... haha. We decided to wait another year to send Nora to kindergarten, but I know I will have very big feelings about her going next year, and at the end of the year, too. Enjoy your summer with Nadia!!

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