Hi friends — it’s me again! I’m back this week while my parents are off on a much-needed vacation (and let me just say, they deserve every second of it). I’m holding things down here on my mom’s corner of the internet and soaking up this season in all its chaos and charm.

There’s a saying I came across on social media recently:

“There’s no busy quite like a mom in May.”

Until this year, I didn’t fully understand what that meant. I’m not a mom, but as a teacher and coach, I’m starting to feel the full weight of what May really is. It’s more than just the end of the school year — it’s a whirlwind of final events, awards ceremonies, banquets, last practices, and meaningful goodbyes. It’s showing up for “your kids” — even if they aren’t yours biologically — and being pulled in what feels like a hundred directions at once.

This morning I’d say I’m running on fumes. And yet, I wouldn’t trade it. Because May, for all of its chaos, also carries an unmatched depth of emotion.

This particular May feels extra bittersweet. I’ll be saying goodbye to a group of students I’ve had the privilege of teaching for the past two years. Yesterday, one of my students broke down in tears, telling me she didn’t like being reminded how few days of school we had left — she couldn’t bear the thought of saying goodbye. And honestly, neither can I.

I’m excited for summer. I can’t wait to head to Buena Vista, to relax, to breathe, and to celebrate my 10-year high school reunion. It’ll be a chance to reconnect with people I haven’t seen in years and reflect on how far we’ve all come. But as I look ahead, I’m also holding onto these final weeks with everything I have.

Graduation is always emotional, but this year hits different. I’ve got a senior TA in my classroom — a bright, kind, and driven young woman who’s been a joy to have by my side. The excitement in her eyes as she counts down to graduation reminds me so much of my own senior year. I remember how May felt like a dream — the final bell, the hugs in the hallway, the celebrations with friends. There was magic in those moments, and seeing her live them now brings it all back.

I had the chance to shower her with a few favorites from The View: An Amuseables Boiled Egg Graduation, a Rifle Paper Co. Corkcicle Sport Canteen to keep her going strong, and a monogram keychain and monogram journal to take into the next chapter. Thoughtful little pieces that say, You did it. And you’re ready for what’s next.

And then there’s my volleyball girls — the very first group I coached from the beginning. I still see them as wide-eyed freshmen, stepping onto the court with nerves and big dreams. Now they’re graduating. It’s surreal. We’ve shared so many firsts: first high school dances, first big wins, first heartbreaks, and now… the first big goodbye. I’m proud beyond words. But also a little heartbroken.

So yes, May is beautiful. But it’s also bittersweet.

It’s full of full-circle moments — endings that make way for beginnings, and goodbyes that hold more love than words can express. It’s the kind of month that fills you up and wears you out all at once. And this year, I’m feeling every bit of it.

Until next time,

Sammi