'Where Does the Time Go?': Mariska Hargitay Gets Choked Up While Reflecting on Her Oldest Son Graduating High School

Watching her oldest son grow up has been a bittersweet experience for Mariska Hargitay.

While being recognized with the Anniversary Tribute at the first-ever Gotham TV Awards on Tuesday, June 4, Hargitay, 60, reflected on watching her son August complete his final months of high school.

"You know, my husband Peter Hermann and I are in the process of watching our oldest son graduate from high school, and we've been shuffling around our house for the last few months just muttering, 'Where does the time go? Where's the time go? What happened?'" shared Hargitay as she began to choke up.

Hargitay proudly revealed during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark in May that the 17-year-old would be going to college.

"It is so stressful, and I thought that it wouldn't be because I'm very much like, 'You will end up where you're supposed to be,' and he did, but you can say that all you want until you go through it. It's so hard, and it's so stressful for these kids," said Hargitay.

The longtime Law & Order: Special Victims Unitstar joked that she's "not a fan" of watching August grow up.

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"The joke has been with August that wherever he goes to college, I am buying an apartment," said Hargitay. "That is the joke. I say to him every time, like if he goes on a date I go, 'So, what time should I meet you guys?' "

Apart from August, she and Hermann, 56, are parents to 13-year-old daughter Amaya and 12-year-son Andrew. While speaking to PEOPLE in January, Hargitay expressed gratitude for being an "older mom."

"I’m so grateful that I’m an older mom. Grateful that I became successful older," she said.

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"I don’t know if I could have handled it when I was younger. When I was younger I wasn’t as present but as I’ve gotten older I’ve started to accept and appreciate," continued Hargitay. "And now I’m going to savor this moment. I want to share my lessons and where there is pain that I can fix that really inspires me to lighten the load."

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