Jamie Lynn Spears isn’t taking her daughter Maddie’s high school graduation in her stride, and she can totally admit that.
THE Zoe 101 The star, 35, shared an emotional post on Instagram on Friday, April 24, as the reality of the milestone finally sank in.
With the graduation invitations sent, the cap and gown arriving and the last regular day of school, Spears said the state of denial she was living in could no longer hold.
“The reality of time comes like a freight train,” she wrote, alongside photos of 16-year-old Maddie, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Casey Aldridge, from her early childhood through her senior year.
She thought about one of the most common parenting phrases and found herself hooked.
“I know the saying ‘the days are long, but the years are short’ is one of the most clichéd sayings because it’s said so much, but I know now that the clichés aren’t repeated that much because they continue to ring true in every life throughout time.”
She described the feeling as bittersweet, pride in everything Maddie has accomplished and a desire to keep her baby forever.
She concluded with a gentle nudge to other parents to stay present and cherish the little things.
“You will NEVER regret spending time with your children,” she wrote, before adding a typically down-to-earth detail.
“Besides, it’s all about the little things, like today I had a scoop of coffee ice cream for breakfast, I’ll probably have some for lunch too, BC Tears & Ice Cream is an unbeatable duo.”
Maddie’s response in the comments was equally sweet. “I love you” and “stop making me cry,” she wrote, to which Spears replied, “You’re the one who just had to go grow up.”
It has been a landmark season for the duo.
Last month, Spears shared photos from Maddie’s prom, posting a meme of herself crying with the caption “SENIOR PROM I’m fine I’m definitely not crying ggg.”
Spears is also mom to eight-year-old daughter Ivey with husband Jamie Watson.
