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This week feels different.
For the first time in 25 years, I don’t have a child starting school. No early-morning alarm clocks, no first-day photos by the front door, no last-minute backpack checks, no rushing out the door with “Did you remember your lunch?” trailing behind.
No first of college photos when I open my phone.
It’s bittersweet. Part of me misses those little routines that stitched themselves into the rhythm of my life for more than two decades. At the same time, part of me feels grateful—grateful that I had a front-row seat for all those years, grateful for the memories that are tucked away like treasures, and grateful to walk alongside so many parents who are right in the middle of it now.
As I took my evening walk tonight, I noticed something that made me pause and smile. Every yard I passed was alive with signs. Football signs. Cheerleader signs. Drill team signs. Band, choir, track, volleyball, soccer. You name it. Each one like a little flag waving proudly: This student matters. This student belongs. This student is worth celebrating.
If you’ve ever lived in Texas, you know that Friday Night Lights isn’t just a saying—it’s a culture. Whole towns come alive under stadium lights. Communities gather. Don’t even get me started on mums. That’s a whole post of its own.Parents beam with pride. I love that part of our state. I love seeing families rally behind their kids.
In fact, I have a whole collection of those signs hanging on my garage walls. Football, cheer, choir, cross-country—each one telling a story, each one a reminder of a season of life, each one representing not just my children, but the joy of being part of a community that shows up for kids. Every day when I drive into my garage, I can’t help but smile.
But tonight, I noticed a sign that stopped me in my tracks. It said:
✨ “I got a 5 on my AP Exam.” ✨
And I thought: Finally.
Finally, a sign that celebrates something we don’t always see in big letters. A sign for the students whose gifts don’t always involve a uniform, a jersey, or a performance under the lights. A sign for the students whose discipline looks like staying up late to study, re-working math problems, rewriting essays, or memorizing formulas. A sign for the kids who may never hear a roaring crowd but who deserve just as much celebration.
Getting a 5 on an AP Exam is no small thing. It represents dedication, sacrifice, persistence, and brainpower that will open doors to college and beyond. For years, I’ve thought—why don’t we celebrate academics the same way we celebrate athletics? Tonight, I saw the beginning of that shift. And it made me so proud.
Because the truth is, not all kids are athletes. Not all kids are performers. Some are scientists, some are writers, some are leaders, some are inventors, some are quiet thinkers who are learning how to put their brilliance into the world. Every one of them deserves a sign in the yard. Every one of them deserves a parent, a teacher, a community saying: We see you. We’re proud of you. What you’re doing matters.
As a mom who has just closed the chapter of back-to-school mornings, I can tell you this: the signs matter. The recognition matters. The encouragement matters. Whether it’s a yard sign, a pat on the back, or a simple, “I’m proud of you,” these little celebrations build confidence that lasts a lifetime.
So to every parent out there rushing through Target aisles for school supplies, ironing uniforms, sitting in bleachers, listening to practice songs, or proofreading essays late at night—take a breath. Celebrate the moment. Hang that sign in the yard. Take that picture. Smile bigger than you think you should. You’re not just cheering for a sport, or a grade, or a score—you’re cheering for your child’s story as it unfolds.
To the students—you are more than the test you take, the sport you play, or the song you sing. You are a collection of gifts and talents that the world desperately needs. Whether you shine under stadium lights, stage lights, classroom lights, or quietly behind the scenes, your efforts are worthy of being celebrated.
Tonight, I walked my neighborhood and felt hope. Hope because I saw signs for every kind of student. Hope because we’re learning as communities to celebrate all achievements, big and small. Hope because even though I don’t have a child starting school this year, I still feel connected to the heartbeat of it all.
So here’s to the athletes, the scholars, the performers, the leaders, the dreamers, and the doers. Here’s to the parents who give their all to support them. Here’s to the teachers and coaches and directors and tutors who pour into them.
We are watching, we are cheering for you… even if you don’t know us personally, we see you and are proud of you.
Here’s to every sign in the yard—and every student behind it.
I’m cheering for you. Always.