When you have children, it is common for parents to dream about what they will be when they grow up. You are looking down this long road ahead of the children, planning your life with your children and their milestones as they grow. It seems to take such a very short time to take your children from diapers to driver's licenses these days.

I guess I am fortunate, in that I have two sets of children, my two oldest sons, 32 years old and almost 31 years old, and then I have the twins, Jon and Ashley, that we adopted as babies, who are now 19 years old! It was difficult to watch my older sons get their driver's licenses and drive down the road alone for the first time, but I only shed a few tears. My boys were now young men and I was surprised how short a time it had been since they played with little Tonka trucks and Matchbox cars.

Jon has been driving for about three years now. I handled that quite well, according to my husband. Our daughter, Ashley, was in no hurry to get her permit and learn to drive. She finally got her permit in her senior year in high school, 2010, and renewed it in 2011. I say nothing wrong with her taking her time getting behind the wheel of a car, however, Dad had other ideas on the subject.

One doesn't always notice that you are clinging to a child, until someone calls it to your attention. Our daughter is the youngest child and as a result, I was doing the 'mother hen' act without even knowing it. It is hard to handle at first, that my children have all grown up. Yesterday, she went to the DMV and took her test and I am proud to say my daughter passed driving test! Such bittersweet words!

She's driving now and this morning she got up and prepared to go to work, and I felt the stirring of all the Chinese acrobats leaping in my stomach. Today she drove herself to work and all I asked was that she call when she arrived. Such a big step for her and she is a very good driver, I might add. I am proud of her and yet my heart aches that she is no longer a child. She is a young woman with a job.

When you take your children from diapers to driver's licenses it is not a slow journey, I found that out with my four wonderful children. It is an adventure you cherish along with all the memories you make on the way. I must say, however, I am not ready for an empty nest.