Wedding Brings Joy and Tears

Today my son is getting married.

While my heart is filled with happiness for him to have found the woman he wants to share the rest of his life with, there's also a tinge of bittersweet.  One has a child, nurtures him, guides, teaches, protects, and cares for him from birth.

Then, there is the landmine trek into teenage years. Is there anything more chilling than wondering if one's child is okay when he's late for curfew?  Or waiting for the car to pull into the driveway after he gets his license? The oh-my-Lord moments pile up pretty high during those tumultuous years.

Parenting doesn't end at age 20. No way. The college years come and go and then there is the first job after graduation, the traveling to new places, sharing disappointments, feeling the grown child's pain over  broken dreams, and on and on.

Then, inevitably, the time comes for a child to say goodbye to his parents and start a new life with his forever love. Of course it's a joyous time but it's also a letting go time.

So today, when my son becomes a husband, no matter how hard I will try not to cry, I know the tears will fill my eyes and threaten to ruin my eye makeup.  Can I help it if I'm a marshmallow heart?  When he walks me down the aisle, I'll look at all the friends and family present and cry some more.

When his bride comes down the aisle, and her eyes lock  with his in a glance of pure love, this mother is going to give Niagra Falls some competition.

(Happy wedding day, my precious son.)

P.S. I will share more on this momentous day in future posts.

HOW DID YOU HOLD UP DURING YOUR CHILD'S WEDDING?