There are times in every parent’s life when you know what you’re about to experience is the first or the last time you’ll ever have that experience. It is up to us how we mark such occasions. How we tuck it away in our memory banks. How we process it. Do we allow ourselves to fully experience those times and appreciate them?

I gave my parents my first day of kindergarten experience 43 years ago. I KNOW. I experienced the first day of kindergarten for my own children in 1995, 1996, 2008 and again, for the final time earlier this month in 2012.

I’ve cried a bit every single day on those first days of kindergarten, leaving my mom 43 years ago and then dropping my own  kids off at school 13, 12 and 4 years ago and for the final time, two weeks ago. I have photos and memories of each time.

*Click on photos to enlarge and simply click the back arrow to return to post.

I will admit to going into the ugly cry this last time. My poor son. I think I went there because I realized this was the last time I would send off my own child into a classroom full of strangers. I think my crying became ugly because he’s the only child I’ve had at home with me every day since his birth until he started school. No childcare centers. No preschool. Just mama.

We’ll be fine. He’s doing terrific with the transition. He tells me he loves school and his teacher. Music to any parent’s ears.

And guess what? I’ll hopefully get to experience some of these first day EVER school moments as a grandparent. Sigh.

How have you marked your children’s first days of school?