A friend said to me, “Aren’t you sad, now that your oldest is graduating?” ABSOLUTELY NOT! He is graduating, with high honors, seven terms of straight A’s, and Asperger’s Syndrome. I’m thrilled, ecstatic, and beyond emotional capacity to express my joy that our eldest is not only moving on with the rest of his life, but that he is prepared to do it. Meaning, we’ve taught him as best we can (and told him use spackle to fill in the gaps) and given him the spiritual, physical, and emotional foundation that he needs (and $3,000 for therapy, just in case). I couldn’t be happier!!
When I think back on all we’ve been and worked through together—homeschooling, bullies, inability to eat more than five foods, social skills and the lack thereof—THAT’S when I get misty. I think back to weird psychiatrist’s visits—and the recommendation for a “social club” that turned out to be a drug rehab session (man, did he get an education there). We laughed ourselves sick all the way home, but was I proud of the way he handled it (i.e. when they said, “What are you addicted to?” he said, “Sugar”.)
To see where he is now, I am elated. And for me, that is one of the biggest Mama Paychecks there is—to have borne, nursed, loved, taught, nurtured, raised, repeatedly instructed, patiently and not-so-patiently guided this divine creation called life, and ultimately see the fruits of your labors in the form of a tall, peach-fuzzed, freckle-faced, stellar young man, is truly THE greatest thing I have experienced in my life.
So, no, I’m not sad one bit. Sure I’ll be bawling my head off on the football field when they call his name. But it won’t be sadness. He’s moving on to college in the fall and a life full of promise and challenges and marriage and family and career and serving his community. And I still get to be a part of that joyous ride. Score for mom!!
All my best,
Connie
