Tara’s Takes
Ben is a senior this year. Monday night while we sat at his first band concert of the year, Natalie leaned over and whispered, “This is Ben’s last first band concert of the year.”
She likes to remind me of all the lasts we have going on, and I like to remind her that come next year, she will be the only child I have at home to annoy.
The funny thing is, Natalie is in her final year at Holy Redeemer School. As an eighth-grader, she’s the top dog in her school and has her own list of lasts. And after all three kids have attended Holy Redeemer since threeyear-old preschool, I have had a kid at Holy Redeemer since 2009.
This list of lasts if completely different.
While Ben had his last first concert this week, I attended my last “Muffins for Misses” with Natalie last Thursday.
I’ve written about the Missoula Children’s Theatre coming to HRS each year. Last week, Natalie tried out, got cast, learned lines, blocking, singing, choreography and everything else in a week. Last weekend, I watched her perform in her last Missoula Children’s Theatre play.
I also spent my last week of packing school lunch, after school snack and supper for their chaotic week. I spent my last Missoula week of sending her to school at 7 a.m. and picking her up at 7:30 p.m. only to run lines on the drive home. I spent my last Saturday of Missoula week selling tickets at the door. Missoula week is absolute chaos, and you don’t see your child much during that week. But it is also a really fun experience for the kids.
One chapter wrapped up. This week, Natalie kicked off her knowledge bowl season.
While this may be her last knowledge bowl season at HRS, she can follow in her brothers’ footsteps and continue this activity in high school.
The big difference is at Marshall High School, they provide transportation and at HRS, you as parents bring your kids to the meet. This means next year I will be dropping her off and picking her up from the high school.
Right now, I get to plan my Monday nights around driving to area schools — Canby, Lakeview, etc. — with strict instructions that I am not to come watch them. Usually I work on my laptop during the first two rounds and she then lets me come watch their team during the last round.
It always amazes me the questions the kids can answer. If you ever want to feel dumb, just watch a knowledge bowl round because those kids are smart.
This is yet another chapter that will be closing as we finish our time at Holy Redeemer School.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m going through all the ups and downs of having yet another senior. I’m trying to soak in all the lasts for him while navigating all that comes with the decisions he’s making.
However, it’s not just the seniors who are having their lasts. It’s every kid at every stage. Some might be more obvious such as the eighthgraders at Holy Redeemer School or sixth-graders at St. Mary’s School.
Others might be more subtle — the kid who played his last football game because he’s decided to pursue other interests. Or the student who participates in their last play here because a job offer next year takes their family elsewhere.
Every moment and activity has its time in a kid’s life, and those chapters move on way too quickly.
So, while I am going to 100% try to enjoy as many of Ben’s lasts as I can this year, I’m going to be celebrating every moment with the kids because there could be a lot more chapters changing then I even know.
