I just left the kids’ first day of school drop-off, and I’m sitting here in the car with tears streaming down my face. Not the kind of tears filled with sadness, but the kind of happy tears that come from a place so deep I can’t fully explain it. If only I could bottle up their joy—those excited giggles, the screeches of pure happiness, the high-fives, the long embraces from friends and school mates they have missed and their beaming smiles. Today, their energy was contagious, their excitement was palpable, and I couldn’t be more proud.
A year ago, this moment felt so far out of reach. Life looked so different. We were in the middle of fighting battles we never saw coming. The weight of uncertainty hung over us, and school drop-offs were a desperate wish I longed to partake in but was too weak from my chemotherapy treatments. I vowed then to enjoy every single moment and to cherish the sometimes chaotic morning rush, the daily catch up en route to after school activities and to truly soak in all these moments because they are a blessing and a privilege. That’s why today hits me harder—this first day of school represents so much more than new beginnings. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come, of resilience, and of the strength that carried us through those dark days.
Today was full of love, excitement, warm embraces, and endless “welcome back”’s. Watching these children bounce into school, so full of life and feeling right at home, I’m left speechless. Grateful doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel right now.
Here’s to the journey. Here’s to this first day. And here’s to never taking a single moment for granted. 💛
