We cannot fashion our children after our desires, we must have them and love them as God has given them to us.
- Goethe
#1 Son Graduates from High School today.
Of course, you don't want your kids to stay young forever. It's been a joy to watch them growing into Honorable Manhood. But damn.
Needless to say, I'm about as proud as I can be. Sure, it's something that everyone does. But it's also one of those rites of passage that make you stop, and - at least for a moment - step out of the flow of time. And for a change, see what's going on.
You don't want them to remain babies forever. They would never leave.
ReplyDeleteHere, at the home office of R.A. of P., we are celebrating our first summer of being child free since 1981. That would be 29 years of child rearing, from diapers to used cars.
I think I can speak for both of us that empty nest syndrome is not a problem.
Congrats on the graduation, it's a milestone.
Has he got any plans for college or work? I know a great engineering school in Montana...
ReplyDeleteASM826, we're looking forward to when both sons are successfully launched into the world, and we move back south.
ReplyDeletebluesun, he's interested in Internet video, but has an internship lined up for next year. I actually like the idea of him working at it for a bit before coughing up the bucks for the sheepskin.
But he does like cold weather ... ;-)
Congratulations! At my Daughter's graduation it slowly started to dawn on me that an important part of life was shifting. The realization didn't cement for me completely until her wedding day.
ReplyDeleteYou never get the "cross the finish line" as a Parent, but graduation day is a tangible mile marker. Let's see if you get unexpectedly weepy like I did :)
BP,
ReplyDeleteMy Progeny is 9 1/2 right now. I get asked all the time about whether I miss her being younger or when she was a baby / toddler, etc. Sure I miss it, but as you revel in your son entering Manhood, I too revel in My Daughter as she grows and matures. At this point she is t-minus 3 1/2 years from becoming a Bat Mitzvah, yet it seems like only a few weeks ago that we took her to Disney for her sixth b-day, and maybe a couple months ago when she was born.
Congrats on your son acheiving his milestone. Enjoy and take pride in his continued growth.
Regards,
Brad_in_MA
Congrats to #1 son on this milestone day!!! TheBoy has a few years to go before he walks, but if the first nine years are any indication, it'll be like next week...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to #1 son (another thing in common, eh?). You've included some interesting finds that he's made. The next step in the transition from father/son is to become colleagues and one that I look forward to.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that we in the tech fields have children that go into them as well?
I remember those days. How can you not be thrilled and proud? Proud but tinged with melancholy.
ReplyDeleteWait till he gets married.
No, better yet, wait till his favorite music is on the oldies channel. :-D
(I'm in that awkward age between kids and grandkids)
I remember walking with my daughter (now in her twenties and married) on a seawall. I stopped, thunderstruck, turned to her and said, "Good god. You'll be sixteen soon. How did that happen?"
ReplyDeleteShe avowed that I was crazy. Someday she'll understand.
When your youngest grandchild turns 18 you might know.
ReplyDeleteSee Ya
Happy Graduation,#1 son, and to your proud parents!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to both of you.
ReplyDeleteJim
The start of being an adult. Best of luck to him.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the graduate, and to the parents: live the moment.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to #1 Son!!! :)
ReplyDeleteFriend once said something to me along the lines of "So your youngest will be leaving soon, that's so diffucult!"
ReplyDeleteMe: "Yeah, he'll be leaving; about damn time, too."
Her: "It doesn't bother you?"
Me: "If they hit adult age and don't get out, you did something wrong."
Right now daughter is 27, son 25, and occasionally I still catch myself wanting to give advice. For the most part, I restrain myself.
But I do still remember her hiding behind her mom's skirt from a stranger. And him on the floor with a lap full of kitten almost as big as he was.