Today was my daughter’s last day of high school. For the past 12 years, plus nursery school, pre-K and Kindergarten, I have made her lunch with some form of peanut butter on crackers or bread. On average, there are 180 days in the school year, times 12 years equals 2160 peanut butter lunches. If you add the three pre-school years, say even at 150 days to allow for part time and lesser school time, that is an additional 450 lunches.  That’s 2610!  OMG.

So I started thinking about this process from pre-school to high school and here are a few of my highlighted thoughts:

• After the use of Teletubbies and Barbie lunch boxes, I probably killed 1000 trees for 2000 +/- lunch bags.
• Of that number, I’d say 10% conservatively were lost or left behind, perhaps even traded for better goodies.
• We lost at least 3 pair of snow pants and multiple mittens and gloves.
• Prior to the tonsils and adenoids out, I’d say a dozen or so ear aches and strep throat.
• We learned  from the beginning, thank you Mrs. Michele C, the alphabet, songs, music, how to make a Picasso Pumpkin and how not to get lost in the pumpkin patch or apple orchard.
• Braces on…braces off.
• Soccer? No.  LAX? Hell no. Basketball?  Yes.
• Broken bones, ruptured spleen, ER visits and subluxation….I love the orthopedic group!
• I must have yelled get up most of high school so that is about 720 mornings!
• I think hurry up is a close second at about 540 mornings.
• We progressed from grade school Halloween parades to Middle School talent shows and sports events to driving and dating and preparing for life after mom and dad.
• Walking home from school: don’t talk to strangers, don’t go near their car, don’t fall for the I have a puppy in the back seat!
• “Don’t back out of the driveway, you’ll kill someone!”
• “You look beautiful in that prom dress- don’t fall in those heels!”
• Broken heart, break-ups, best friends, friends and life lessons.

We now embark on this next stage.  I was sad this morning when I made that last lunch. It all came rushing back.  The first day on the bus and today, watching her drive away.  I fear those tears are bubbling close to the top and we haven’t gotten to graduation or move in day at RIT.

I am proud of both my kids and I will have three more years to torture Jack before he too leaves.

Amelia, I love you and I am so proud of the woman you have become. Now go out and kick some butt!  I will console Izzy for she has been reading this over my shoulder and appears very sad.