Many moms are feeling emotional because their babies are starting with pre-school and others are going to big school. It is quite different for the South African broadcaster Melanie ‘Melz’ Bala, who is capturing the lasts of her son’s high school days.
Taking to Instagram, the proud mom posted a picture of her son and in her caption, she wrote, “2024 is a big year for me as a mom. I bought the last set of school textbooks EVER for him the other day. I’m becoming acutely aware of the lasts.”
She added that they remember all his milestones, from his first steps, tooth and words, “We remember & celebrate the firsts so vividly – first steps, words, teeth – but the lasts are a lot quieter. Do I remember the last time I picked him up, the last bedtime story, the last holding of a hand.”
“Today we applied for his first ID card. A pensive realization to myself that this is the last time I’m doing whatever *it* is, for him,” she added.
She wrote that he is going to university next year and she is hopeful that she had prepared him well enough to be on his own, “Soon he’ll be doing it all for himself. I can only hope that I’ve prepared him enough for all this life has in store.”
Her caption was concluded by some advice to moms on a book that they can read, “PS hey mommies – there’s a wonderful book by Karen Kingsbury titled “Let Me Hold You Longer” about these lasts. I bought it many years ago but it’s a classic, so always available.”
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Social media users who are also parents and share the same emotions commented:
“This hit home for me, it’s the matric year for my son too.”
Another one wrote that, “Blessings on your Matric year. Looks like his mama from the side.”
“So relatable Mel. I need to get myself that book,” wrote another social media user.
Also see: Lamiez Holworthy bursts with pride after son takes his first steps
