End Of An Era: Who Else Feels The Heartache As The '18 Summers' Conclude?

Graduation season is upon us which means it’s also "reflection season," "crying season," and "why is life flying by so fast season."  And all of these double in severity if you’re a parent watching your child close a big chapter in their life dressed in a cap and gown.

I don’t think there’s a parent on this planet who doesn’t feel a variety of emotions as their child is about to graduate high school or college. My youngest child of four is about to graduate high school and I teeter back and forth between how did we get here this fast, pride, tears, excitement, disbelief, and pretty much everything in between.

I’ve had a child in the school system since the late 90s and never expected to make it to this day quite this quickly, but here we are. And I know I’m not alone feeling all this!

Actress Jennifer Garner recently shared a short but to-the-point video on TikTok and Instagram about her daughter’s high school graduation and seeing her in tears put it into perspective that all of us parents are in the same boat. Many viewers of her video shared their own stories, making me feel even less alone.

“My only baby is about to graduate top 5% and is going to the University of Texas after getting into his dream program. I’m prepared to be a MESS,” one person wrote. Another shared, “Same Jen same. How are we gonna make it?”

And I have the same question - how do the parents make it through this experience without bawling their eyes out? Because the kids don’t fully understand how this makes us feel, and they shouldn’t at this point, but this signifies the end of their childhood. Next up, adulthood, which brings not only a new chapter for our child, but also for us. 

“Never seems like enough time with them,” one person wrote in the comments of Garner’s post. And I feel that sentence with every fiber of my being. Every. Single. One.

The crying parents of high school graduates are far from alone in this journey. They say it takes a village, and it sure does.

"Oh honey...I know. You have done a great job, mama! I will be here for support and lots of hugs," Reese Witherspoon wrote. Gwyneth Paltrow added, "I’m sooooo with you." And Jenna Dewan said, "I will be exactly this."

And I'll also have support while I watch the baby of the family walk across the stage to receive his diploma. Two of my other children will be there by my side, as well as my good friend who played a big role in my kids' lives. Regardless of who's near me during graduation, I'll still be bawling my eyes out. This is my last high school graduation...until grandkids, of course!

When your child is born, it seems like it’s going to take forever and a day to get to this point. And then you blink and it’s here. We only have 18 summers with our children during their childhood. If that sentence doesn’t put it all into perspective, nothing will. Just 18 summers. And those 18 summers fly by so fast! 

And just to put this into perspective a little further, I recently wrote a story about Steve Burns from "Blue's Clues" giving the commencement speech at SUNY Delhi recently. Some of what he said really hit home being the parent of kids who watched him throughout their younger years. He took parents of kids who loved his show on a little walk down memory lane during his speech.

"'Blue's Clues' was a really, really, kind of weird children's television show wherein I was the only alive human part of an entirely animated world. I wore the same bad outfit all the time and was generally very nice and very excited about absolutely everything," he said.

"I hung out with an animated puzzle-solving puppy who was blue and also named Blue, which is why the show was called 'Blue's Clues.'  I had meaningful conversations with my condiments, I sang songs with a bar of soap, and when the mail showed up, dude, I freaked out. I went crazy, I sang songs and jumped into the air."

He also said that many people have approached him to this day to share what "Blue's Clues" meant to them growing up. And the funny thing is that he may not even realize that it's not just the kids who watched his shows that have fond memories, but also the parents, like me.

My son’s graduation isn’t the only big milestone going on in my family at the moment either so it’s no wonder I stop and cry at the drop of a hat. 

My oldest son is getting married two days after my youngest graduates. Another big moment that makes me tear up. Good tears, of course, because I’m so happy for him and love that our family is growing. And their love story is one for the books! They met online as young teens while playing a game. They became friends, which later turned into more, despite living states away from each other. After flying from Pennsylvania to Florida to meet her and her family a few years ago, the visits became yearly and he moved to Florida last year to be with her. 

And that’s not all! Just a week after my youngest graduates and my oldest gets married, me and my youngest are moving across the country. He got into his dream college and I’m ready for a change of scenery so we’re moving to Vegas.

The house I’m currently living in is where my four children grew up. I’ve been here for 19 years, the longest I’ve been anywhere. I’m ready to leave this area, but it’s still a bittersweet experience. And my middle son is staying in Pennsylvania, which brings on more emotional moments. 

All of this is happening at once. So if you see me and I’m crying, you’ll understand why.

A quick search of the word "graduation" on TikTok and tons of emotional videos pop up. Some are geared toward the actual ceremony and others are all about how the moms of seniors about to graduate are feeling right about now. All of it is tear-inducing and so relatable.

A video shared by @mamaduck2123 hits home for a lot of parents.

"To all the moms of a high school senior, the days were long but the days were even shorter. Congrats class of 2024, and every proud momma out there," she wrote on a photo of a 2024 tassel. (I'm not crying...okay, yes I am, but so are you.)

Many viewers dropped into the comments to share how they're feeling right about now.

"I’ve been crying nonstop my baby is graduating. WE DID IT MAMAS," one person emotional shared. Another said, "Cried every day this week!!! Graduation is still 2 weeks away. We are not ok."

To all the 2024 high school and college graduates, CONGRATULATIONS! You did it and should be so proud! To all the parents of graduating seniors, WE DID IT! And we should also be proud.