I loved so many things about this beautiful month of May. We celebrated Mother's Day, helped put on a huge LDS prom with a carnival theme, took a quick trip to Palm Springs to watch Grant surf in the wave pool, celebrated the end of seminary, and spent many evenings attending concerts, award ceremonies, and other end-of-year events that seem to fill every calendar this time of year.
But if I'm honest, what stood out most to me this month wasn't any particular event. It was the growing realization that my years as a mom of teenagers are numbered.
Anna is about to graduate from middle school, closing another chapter. Somehow she's already participating in activities at Poway High, and I find myself wondering where the time went. People tell you over and over again that childhood flies by, but it's hard to fully understand what they mean until you're standing in the middle of it. One day you're packing lunches and volunteering in elementary classrooms, and the next you're attending high school events and talking about college plans.
It's hard for me to believe that both of my younger children are now in high school. If all goes according to plan, I have only two more years with Grant at home and four with Anna. Of course, life doesn't always follow a timeline. Dane's community college journey has reminded me that children don't simply disappear when they turn eighteen. Sometimes they stay a little longer. Sometimes they leave and return. Family life continues to evolve.
Still, I can feel this season changing. There will come a day when my calendar isn't filled with carpools, practices, games, concerts, recitals, seminary events, and late-night pickups. There will be a time when I'm no longer needed in quite the same way. While I'm not particularly excited for that transition, it has made me appreciate these busy years even more.
Let's discuss monthly highlights: for sure a bright spot this month was helping my friend Elizabeth put on the LDS prom. She has an incredible talent for dreaming up a theme and bringing it to life in every possible detail. This year's carnival theme was spectacular, and the kids had an absolute blast. Grant was asked by a friend from church named Sammy (it was girls ask boys), and he later told me it was one of the most fun dates he'd ever been on. There were acrobats, churros, deep fried oreos, silent discos, shirly temples, mini golf and all sorts of amazing carnival games. SUCH a fun night.
After Party!
Evelyn came home for a visit this month, which is always something we look forward to. The entire house feels happier when she's here—including the pets, who absolutely adore her. Cody came down for a few days as well, and we all went to see MJ the Musical, which was a blast. The two of them spent time at the beach and exploring downtown San Diego, and it was fun to watch Evelyn finally enjoy some freedom after such a demanding semester of nursing school.
One of my favorite things about having adult children is getting to know them as adults. I loved seeing Evelyn reconnect with friends, relax a little, and simply enjoy being home. She wasn't quite as sad to head back knowing her cousin Katie would be there waiting for movie nights and country dancing adventures. Unfortunately, shortly after returning, she and Cody broke up. My heart hurts for her because breakups are never easy, but I've also been incredibly proud of the grace and maturity she's shown. Watching her navigate disappointment with strength and self-respect has reminded me just how much she has grown. She truly is becoming an amazing woman, and I admire her more every year.
Another highlight of the month was traveling to Las Vegas with Grant for a soccer tournament. On paper, driving five hours there and five hours back in the span of just a couple of days sounds exhausting. But as I've been reflecting on how quickly these years are passing, I found myself thinking: when else would I get ten uninterrupted hours with my teenage son? Some of our best conversations happen in the car, and I loved having that time with him. Of course, watching him play soccer is always a treat, but the real gift was simply getting to enjoy his company for an entire weekend.
We also took a family trip to Palm Springs, where we visited Blake's pediatric offices and spent the day at the water park and wave pool. Grant and his friend Gibson caught wave after wave and looked like seasoned surfers by the end of the day. I was amazed by how much Grant has improved. Watching him grow in confidence and skill was so much fun, and it ended up being one of those simple family days that I'll remember for a long time.
One of my absolute favorite evenings this month was attending Grant's choir concert. Nancy came down to join us, and we spent the entire evening smiling and laughing. There is something especially delightful about watching your son, who is fiercely competitive and intense on the soccer field, step onto a stage and enthusiastically sing and dance. He performed songs from Grease, Les Misérables, Dear Evan Hansen, and The Greatest Showman, and he was all in. I honestly don't know if watching him score goals brings me as much joy as watching him perform. There was something so genuine and joyful about it that I found myself wishing the concert would never end.
Dane has had a challenging month as he wrapped up his first year at Miramar College. Between papers, exams, and projects, he has worked incredibly hard. I continue to be amazed by his determination and discipline. He earned straight A's this year and never missed a single assignment. Given all that he has overcome, that accomplishment feels especially meaningful. This summer he plans to shadow professionals in the mental health field and pursue volunteer opportunities in clinical settings as he continues building experience for what he hopes will eventually be medical school. I couldn't be prouder of him.
We also celebrated Kenzie's birthday this month. At this point, Kenzie feels like part of the family. When we went around sharing what we love most about her, a common theme emerged: she brings energy, happiness, and fun wherever she goes. She is always willing to jump in and help, always up for an adventure, and always kind. We are grateful for the joy she brings into our lives.
Anna's month has been packed with activities. Between dance rehearsals for her upcoming recital, tennis, and beginning basketball training, she's been constantly on the move. Basketball has been especially brave for her. She hasn't really played since she was ten years old, and she often worries that she's behind everyone else. But one thing I admire about Anna is her willingness to try hard things. She shows up, works hard, and keeps going even when she's uncomfortable.
When she's not at an activity, she's usually spending time with friends, talking with Beau, or doting on younger children. We celebrated Sophie's birthday this month, and Anna was thrilled to help pick out gifts for her. At church, the younger kids seem to gravitate toward Anna wherever she goes. She has a natural gift for making children feel loved and important.
Anna also completed an e-bike safety class this month because she's hoping to ride around Encinitas more often. While I'm grateful she took the class, I'm not sure any amount of instruction will completely ease a mother's worries. The thought of her cruising around busy streets still makes me a little nervous.
One of the proudest moments of the month came at Anna's awards ceremony. Not only did she receive recognition for her academic achievement, but she was also named Ram Scholar of the Year. What makes it even more remarkable is that she won the same award last year. This award is given to a student who is conscientious, hardworking, and demonstrates outstanding character. While none of us who know Anna are surprised that her teachers adore her, I still found myself sitting there in awe. Sometimes as parents we become so accustomed to our children's strengths that we forget how exceptional they really are. Watching Anna receive that recognition was a beautiful reminder of the remarkable young woman she is becoming.
As for me, I had a few highlights of my own this month. One of the biggest was wrapping up our first session of PEERS at Transcend Behavioral Health. This has been a goal I've been working toward for more than a year, so seeing it finally come to life felt incredibly rewarding. The group was small, but the experience was a success. Adapting the adolescent curriculum I learned in training into something developmentally appropriate for elementary-age children took countless hours, but I genuinely loved every minute of it. Few things bring me more joy than creating curriculum and finding ways to help kids learn and connect. It put me right into flow state where time disappears and work feels more like play.
I also spent a few days subbing this month, including what may go down as my most memorable subbing experience ever. After recess, I walked into a classroom only to discover that it had somehow been transformed into what looked like a giant ball pit. Hundreds of little balls covered the floor. A sign read, "You've been balled!" Thirty-five second graders entered the room and exploded into chaos. Children were throwing balls, rolling on the floor, screaming with delight, and completely ignoring every attempt I made to regain order. After several minutes of total mayhem, the teacher next door finally came in and rescued me by firmly getting everyone's attention. I was equal parts grateful and mortified.
As if that weren't enough excitement for one day, I later learned that five students in the class had lice. Anyone who has battled lice in their own household knows that just hearing the word is enough to make your head itch. I've spent the weeks since convinced that every little tickle on my scalp might be the beginning of a full-blown infestation. Thankfully, so far, so good.
Beyond work, I enjoyed helping Helen move, hiking with friends, celebrating Jessica's birthday, and spending time with Grandma as we combined Mother's Day and birthday festivities into one special weekend. I also began preparing for the San Diego Temple Open House, where I will have the opportunity to serve as an ambassador host. I'm excited to help welcome visitors and participate in what feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our area.
Mother's Day itself was one of my favorite days of the month. The kids spoiled me with thoughtful notes, flowers, gifts, delicious food, and desserts. More than any gift, though, I treasured the chance to simply be together. We spent the day as a family, and Blake joined us as well. It was one of those days that felt both ordinary and special at the same time.
As I look back on May, I realize that what I'll remember most won't be the soccer tournaments, concerts, awards, trips, or even the chaos of a classroom full of flying balls. What I'll remember are the people. The long conversations in the car with Grant. Watching Evelyn navigate adulthood with courage. Seeing Dane work toward his future. Celebrating Anna's accomplishments and cheering her on as she tries new things. Spending time with family, friends, and the people I love most.
Maybe that's why this season of life feels so bittersweet. I can see the horizon changing. The kids are growing up. New chapters are opening. The routines that once felt endless are quietly becoming temporary. Yet instead of making me sad, this month mostly left me feeling grateful. Grateful that I get to be here for it. Grateful that I still have front-row seats to these remarkable lives. And grateful that even as time moves faster than I'd like, it continues to bring so many beautiful moments along with it.
Until next month.
