It’s the middle of the last week of school, and I’m finally sitting on my couch at 9:30 at night – the first time I’ve had all day to just sit and be still. And, what I can’t get off my mind is how I’m actually kind of sad that the school year is already over.

Don’t get me wrong… I love summer vacation. Like, I REALLY love it. Because my husband and I are both teachers, we have a whole lot of fun family time during the summer, which I would trade for the world. My own kids will only be kids once, and I maximize every moment of available time with them. So, yay summer and all that.

However, this time of year is also very difficult for me. I spend a ridiculous number of hours each week with a group of 80+ teenagers starting in August. So, by the time we arrive here in the first week of June, we all know each other pretty well. Really well. I’ve spent the school year finding every possible thing there is to love about them (that’s the key to teacher sanity and effectiveness, by the way) and then, suddenly, they’ll just be gone. We’ve laughed together, learned together, and had adventures together. I’ve listened to them when things were going badly, held them accountable when needed, and they’ve given me grace on my bad days (and in the mornings in general because I’m a horrible morning person). When they’re suddenly gone, moving on in their school careers as they absolutely should do, it’s like losing a whole bunch of friends all at once.

It’s a bittersweet time – one in which you remember the good times more than the bad, because who wants to focus on the bad anyway? You encourage them to go on and succeed and do big things, but also try to let them know that you don’t really want them to go away. I’m grateful for social media (they’re telling me to get snapchat… I’m too old for that, right?) and texting and all the ways I get to keep up with my students, but it’s just not the same.

Because I’m a product of the 90’s and my love of Better Than Ezra was (and still is) fierce, these happy but sad feelings always send “This Time of Year” running through my mind. I think the lyrics are perfect for the end of the school year for a teacher, and also for 8th graders as they get ready to graduate. There’s so much to look forward to and enjoy, but also so much to look back on and miss.

So, this one goes out to all my students, past and present. I miss you guys for real!

“This Time Of Year” – Better Than Ezra

Well, there’s a feeling in the air
Just like a Friday afternoon.
Yeah, you can go there if you want
Though it fades too soon.So go on, let it be.
If there’s a feeling coming over me,
Seems like it’s always understood this time of year.[To Chorus:]
Well, I know there’s a reason to change.
Well, I know there’s a time for us.
You think about the good times
And you live with all the bad.
You can feel it in the air,
Feeling right this time of year.Well, there’s a football in the air,
Across a leaf blown field.
Yeah, and there’s your first car on the road,
And the girl you’d steal.

So go on with yourself
If there’s a feeling that there’s something else.
Seems like it’s always understood
This time of year.

[To Chorus:]
Well, I know there’s a reason to change.
Well, I know there’s a time for us.
You think about the good times
And you live with all the bad.
You can feel it in the air,
Feeling right this time of year.

Well, there’s a feeling in the air
Just like a Friday afternoon.
Yeah, you can go there if you want
Though it fades too soon.

So go on, let it be.
If there’s a feeling coming over me,
Seems like it’s always understood this time of year.

[To Chorus:]
Well, I know there’s a reason to change.
Well, I know there’s a time for us.
You think about the good times
And you live with all the bad.
You can feel it in the air,
Feeling right this time of year.