He’s 14, so he’s not quite all grown up.But he embarked today on his first day of band camp. This is the beginning of the end of his childhood. In about a month and a half he starts high school and in less than two years, he starts driving.

And I’m left to sit here wondering: "Where did the time go? Have I done a good enough job of raising him? Do I really have to let go?" The fact is, it may be easier to let him go than it will be my other two kids- I had to start learning to let go of him at a very young age, since I divorced his dad when he was 7 months old, and he started going to his dad’s for the weekend pretty soon thereafter. That may have been the hardest letting go.

Yet, there’s something very bittersweet about today. He asked me last night if he could walk over to a local sit-down restaurant with his friends after band camp was over. I wanted to say no, but I do know he’s responsible enough, and I know his friends are, too. I admonished him about leaving a 20% tip, and told him to call me when he was about finished eating. They grow up so soon.