I was kneeling over the edge of the tub the other day bathing my little girl when she told me she wanted to wash herself. Soon, I thought, she'll be closing the bathroom door and doing it all by herself. What age did the others start bathing themselves? I thought and I thought and I thought and I couldn't remember. Huh... Isn't it funny how we put so much emphasis on their firsts, but not so much on their lasts? [caption id="attachment_3800" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="My little guy\'s first time bowling"] [/caption] I clearly remember their first teeth, their first words, the first time they slept through the night, their first hair cut. But try as I might, for the life of me, I can't remember the last time I rocked them to sleep, the last bottle I made for them, the last diaper I ever changed, the last time I bathed them. [caption id="attachment_3803" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="First time the kids headed out on the canoe without an adult"] [/caption] Interesting, isn't it? I wonder... Is it because we are so tired of doing these things that we're happy for one less chore? Is it because we don't realize at the time that this will be the last time? Or is it because we're too busy celebrating "the firsts" that naturally follow "the lasts"? For me, judging from all the "firsts" that are stored in my brain and on my camera, I'd have to say that it's definitely the last point. What about you? Why do you think we put so much emphasis on their firsts and not so much on their lasts?