The first day of school is the common time parents realize how quickly their children are growing up. As parents, we have known our children since birth, and can easily recall every year of their lives. So, when people realize their child is now a fifth grader but without difficulty can remember that same child struggling to learn how to walk, time seems to be going by very quickly. “I really can’t believe our little man is already in 3rd grade,” said area mom Amanda Shannon. “I mean, our little guy is such a big boy now,” she continued as she fought to hold back tears. Jim McDonald also feels his kids are growing up too fast. “Both my kids are now in full time school,” said McDonald. “I can’t believe it. Where does the time go? I love them where they are at now, but boy, time really goes by too quickly. Things need to slow down.” These are the sentiments universally shared by nearly all parents. We did find one area man who disagreed, however. “I was thrilled when they finally started going to school full time,” said Dave Farrell. “I mean, whenever I was around we had to be doing something; making them food, putting them down for naps, and so on. Just way too much work.” For Farrell, it’s not just that milestone he was looking forward to. “Now that one is in 7th grade and one is in fifth, we don’t have to do near as much with them. You know, they are off with their friends, can pour their own cereal, can ride bikes places. They’re just getting easier. Pretty soon, they will be able to get a job and drive a car.” Farrell is really looking forward to when the kids are completely out of the house. “I am so excited to get new furniture,” said Farrell. “No reason to do it now, they’ll just destroy it. But, when they are out, we can get new furniture, maybe buy a loft downtown, or just convert their rooms into offices, or game rooms. Anyway, I hope this next segment of their lives goes by more quickly than the last one. Seemed like forever that we had to coddle and take care of them.” Farrell says he will always love his kids, provided it doesn’t involve doing lots of stuff with them.