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Meg

" Y ou told her this was going to be really hard, right?"

Glaring at my husband, I try to control my sass. "Of course I did. And she knew it all on her own."

"What about the guys?" Looking away from our crying daughter, I see what Will sees. He chuckles and points at Trevor. "Matthew's looking at his dad like he's never seen him before."

My own eyes burn in response to Trevor's tears. "Gosh, I haven't seen him cry in two years." Not since baby Matthew was born.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" Emmie waves her little arm at us as the school bus turns the corner.

Happiness springs forth at the sound of my granddaughter’s voice. "Love you, bunny! Have an awesome first day!"

"Be good! And safe!" Will adds and pales a little. To me, he mutters in a horrified voice, "Fucking hell...Do you think she knows how to punch if she needs to?"

I laugh at him and wrap my arms around the love of my life as my daughter is swept into four large bodies for comfort. Nina cries and her men soothe her, each one struggling as they watch their first born drive away on a school bus.

First day of first grade. How the time flies. I remember Nina's first day of elementary school like it was yesterday.

"Love yew, Emmie!" Matthew screams just now realizing his sister is down the road. I suppose with five parents hugging him and begging him not to grow up, he can't see much else.

Sighing, I feel my love grow even more. Being able to witness this milestone for their family is so incredibly beautiful.

Nina slips free of eight beefy arms, then walks over to me and her dad. Wiping her eyes, she sniffles and scurries into our hug. "I could have driven her." She pouts.

I smile, and even though it's wobbly with emotion, it's still a wonderful one. "Remember what I told you all those years ago?" Goodness, I'm going to cry again.

And I do when she repeats what I thought she may have forgotten. "She needs my arms to loosen so she may spread her wings...I know, Mom. I just don't ever want to let go."

I squeeze my girl tighter, mindful of her baby bump. "I know what you mean, sweet Nina."

She'll come to realize that a mother never truly lets go. No matter how far our kids fly, our love follows to keep them warm in the wind and cushion their falls.

We're always there and always will be.