For something non-political. Four years ago I wrote this thread about dropping off our firstborn at college (he graduated in May). Now it’s time for the second one.
Raising my kids, especially this young man, has been the most fantastic experience of my life. He is one of the wittiest, cleverest people I’ve ever known. He is both of his parents evolved. He is also steadfast and utterly immovable in his faith.
He graduated with honors (scholars diploma, honor society, scholarships etc., etc.) and chose to study computer science and business. He got his dad’s engineer’s mind and my sarcasm and love of horror movies. While his classmates created more classically beautiful sculptures for a big (Christian) junior high art project, he created a 3D sculpture of a Demogorgon. He began creating his own games and projects in 7th grade and did all sorts of extra things outside of class throughout school.
He loves prog rock. His favorite directors are Jacques Tati and Michael Bay. His favorite movie is “Playtime.” He thinks Elon Musk is a genius. I’ve kept a running list of his remarks since he was a kid called “[X’s] Rules.” One of my favorites: “The only play a man should watch is wrestling.”
We dropped off our brilliant young man at a well-vetted university today. It was has hard as the first time. He thinks college is mostly a racket but took advantage of the offered scholarships and added some business classes to round out his toolkit for the future.
He is a rock against which bad ideology breaks.
He is ready.
His readiness and self confidence has made me ready.
I adore being a mom but I also know that our role as parents is a great paradox. We orient our lives around the little beings we create and raise and only when our parental purpose is rendered somewhat obsolete can they truly be considered “successfully” raised. It’s a painfully rich process and you alternate between wondering if you’re an overprotective clown or an absentee parent, with no gray areas.
When I walked into his room with my Type A clipboard packing list saw that he had his own digital one. I relaxed.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for my amazing dude.
Bonus:
The soundtrack of this passage:
Words of wisdom with Grandma’s rollercoaster story:
Lastly, “Putting the Basket In the Water.”
So now , you & Chris are empty nesters .....I hated that part . You spend a lifetime raising your kids & poof ....they are gone ...Now , Dana , you & Chris have to become re-acquainted . I helped raise 4 Daughters ....been thru it / still going thru it ......Youngest will turn 40 this October .......
How sweet! I remember those drop off's from my two daughters, bittersweet. I always thought they would be around but I aways knew my job as a mom was to grow them into responsible, loving adults. I succeeded and you have as well, great job mom AND dad!!!!