Tomorrow morning at 8am my son will become a high school freshman.
My baby.
The Youngest.
The last baby I’ll ever have.
(Yes, that thought occurred to me long ago, but still. Hush.)
Honestly, this boy was independent from the get-go. In his first day of life he stared out from his hospital bassinet, eyes wide open with wonder, not a peep of protest or cry for reassurance. The nurses marveled at his gaze, at his ability to follow them around the room with his eyes. “They don’t usually do that so young!”. said one. He never did bother to crawl… he sort of just GOT UP when he was 9 months old and that was that.
Tomorrow starts a new chapter. He will attend a private catholic high school and this in itself will be strange territory. I believe firmly in a good public education and it’s how we were all brought up. My mother was a public school teacher for 39 years. For several reasons we (and he) decided instead of our town’s public High School, this was the route he would benefit from the most.
For him the workload will be two-fold. It was his decision to attend, and it will be up to him to keep up and apply himself. ( “Required Summer READING LIST? But… this is my SUMMER!!) Getting him to sit in the dentist chair for an un-novicained root canal would be easier.
For me the ironing will be TORTUROUS truly a labor of love. And so will the letting go… something I’m not very good at. For now there is still the boy in the young man… and I’m cherishing every minute. For now, there are still bike rides and sleepovers and xbox and turtle tanks and smores by the fire.
Last night over Buffalo Chicken Pizza and orange and lime sodas we discussed what they might want to do when they grow up. Two of the three shrugged their shoulders, and my son replied in all seriousness…
“ I’m going to be a Trophy Truck Driver”
Ok then.
Ok then…bet he will be a dynamite truck driver!!! Enjoy these times, Karen. I still can't believe my baby is 24!
I know the feeling when a child hits a milestone…we suddenly seem left in the dust {but we never truly are}. My kids went to private catholic schools from kindergarten through high school and the high schools were boy only, girl only. I think it made for a bigger education. Now he may not need all that if he is going to be a truck driver…but he'll decide!! ;-D
xoxo
Jane
And as his mother I'm sure you will be showing off that trophy on your mantel. 😉
And you'll be the mother of a trophy truck driver… hilarious. I had a friend I hadn't seen in awhile tell me her son wanted to be a recreational vehicle something or other mechanic and I thought she was joking… she sooo wasn't.
Glad to hear that as high school freshmen they pretty much still love to do all the things my kids do. Big relief the word "girls" didn't come into the picture 🙂
And you'll be a proud Mama of a trophy truck driver for sure! Too funny! I was a "proud Mama" today…my little man started kindergarten!
And so it goes…one foot standing in the last moments of childhood, the other leaping boldly into the next phase of life. I can feel the tug at your heartstrings, my friend. Your little guy is on his way (with a healthy head start from his awesome parents, BTW.)
H-
Life goes on huh? Yes, this is a big step. Last one going to High School, I can feel your pain for sure. As I'm sure you know, each chapter brings with it new joys.
Hang in there Mom.
I'm sure you'll be proud parents, whatever he turns out to be 😉
Aww, turning points…
trophy truck driver… too funny!
What is a trophy truck driver? It sounds more glamorous than what my youngest son wanted to be when he was 6, and that was a trash truck driver! He used to sit at the end of the drive and watch for those guys on trash pick-up day. The way his face lit up when he finally saw them was classic. He did end up to be a really good trash taker outer now that I think about it. So – a trophy truck driver, huh? Well, mom, you just encourage him to be the best trophy truck driver he can be!