GRADUATION!🎉🎓

One Down…4 to Go!

Graduation is always a festive time, but for me, this day when my first of five kiddos will graduate from high school, it feels like Christmas morning!

The moment is all that much sweeter because there were many times over the past year that I wasn’t sure if it would happen.

My son and I had been estranged for the better part of several years. After he chose to live with his dad and his dad’s girlfriend I saw very little of him despite my efforts and invitations. It was heartbreaking.

He even ran away twice. He was like the prodigal, running for no good reason.

Through the help of prayer, the intervention of a very skilled therapist and perseverance, we were reunited a few months ago when he asked to come back. I thought of him as my prodigal son. And that thought materialized more so as he moved back in with me. That was when I observed that he was using drugs. This led to at times missed school and anger expressed at me and other family members. For much of the past few months it was really touch and go.

When caps and gowns went up for sale months ago I purchased one though he said he did not plan to walk, just in case. I talked regularly about the graduation ceremony, telling him how proud of him I was.

The month leading up to graduation included many emails from teachers and the guidance counselor about missing assignments and prerequisites needed to graduate. My son was rather hostile toward me much of the time and I was sure I could not make him do any of these things but he completed them and when we received final approval that he had graduated (with an A on his government final!) the relief was palpable.

It’s hard when you hear and see other families presenting their graduate and family as problem free. Social media is of course not a complete lens into anyone’s world! And it wouldn’t be appropriate to air all our dirty laundry. There are appropriate forums.

He had been accepted with a partial scholarship into university some time ago but refused to add me to the contact list or share anything going on with me so I had little way to partner with him towards this next big step. Yesterday my heart sang when he reached out to ask me with part of the registration.

This week has been full of graduation excitement with rehearsals and our daughter’s elementary moving up ceremony. My son has been delightful, smiling and participating more in family life. I even overheard him respond to a friend who was critical about the graduation ceremony that after all this it would be ridiculous not to walk (interspersed with lots of Dude! of course)!

So this morning I got up early, affixed his tassel to his cap and decorated the yard & dining room with graduate decorations. My heart thrills.

I know there will be ups and downs to come but for now I’m going to enjoy this hard earned moment of elation, relief and pride.