Goodbye to my little kids and hello to my teenagers

Goodbye to being followed around the house and being adored as a parent

Goodbye to kids crawling into bed with me in the morning

Goodbye to toys and imagination games

Goodbye to wanting Mom to help

Hello to amazing older kids

Hello to thoughtful conversation

Hello to more time and independence

Hello to slamming doors and rolling eyes

Hello to cell phones and texting conversations

Hello to life discussions starting late at night

Hello to hormones, emotions, children growing up and becoming their own people.

Hello to a new stage of life for our our family

Hello to new adventures…

This week was the start of his freshman year of high school…

The week was the start of her first year in middle school…

She insisted on walking alone with her friend to school on the first day…