Standing there with much trepidation, I waited for him.

I watched him from afar as he gleamed from ear to ear. When the Pomp and Circumstance began, I had glimpses of him as a baby. As cliché as this may sound, it was as though my life was flashing before my eyes. I had a clear vision of him as an infant and my mind conjured up many toddler memories.

I was seeing life with him in every season – every milestone echoed with laughter and smiles. It was all coming back.

With my camera in one hand and a tissue in the other, I experienced a sequential flashback of my son’s life; it was a montage of sorts and I was having a difficult time keeping the tears away.

I never imagined I would feel this way at a Kindergarten graduation.

I mean, I was THAT mom who swore she would be throwing a party when the time came. Instead of getting all emotional, I thought I was going to be THAT mom who poked fun at other moms who couldn’t keep it together. I mean, it’s a milestone in which they are finally getting out of our hair, so wasn’t this a time of absolute celebration?

Last year, I blogged about my son entering Kindergarten, sharing how I was SO ready for this change to take place and I was ready to let go.

But now that it’s actually over, I feel melancholy because it’s official.

My baby is growing up.

The moment he started singing On My Way performed by Phil Collins, I lost it. There he was snapping his fingers, bending his knees, smiling before the audience and belting out the words that rattled my heart:

“Tell everybody I’m on my way. New friends and new places to see,

With blue skies ahead, yes I’m on my way and there’s nowhere else that I’d rather be.

 Tell everybody I’m on my way and I’m loving every step I take,

With the sun beating down, yes I’m on my way and I can’t keep this smile off my face…”

I could barely keep my composure. I was lucky if I was able to take some pictures because my hands were trembling. I was a total emotional wreck.

Because in that moment, I saw wings on his back.

He was beginning to fly.

And with every word he sang, it was as if he was telling me – “Mommy, it’s ok. I’m ready. I’m on my way now.”

As happy and proud as I was to stand there and watch my son fly, I couldn’t help but stop to think – if only I could make time stand still, just for a little while longer.

It’s just all happening so fast.

Ready or not, my baby is on his way – so now I’ve got to figure out how to get on my way, too.