My baby girl donned her cap and gown this weekend, graduating from high school with her besties, along the shore of wooded pond. It was a tremendous moment for us all, not because we didn't see it coming. She didn't just burst into womanhood but has just naturally eased right into it, feeling very comfortable in her skin.
I realized this time, the fourth time we have sent a child forth out of our homeschool nest, that it is different now. People ask, "Does it get easier?" They mean, I think, "Does parenting get easier? Does teaching (and choosing curricula and methods) get easier? Does letting go get easier?" Well, it must, because the thing that has struck me the most about all that in recent weeks is that I no longer feel the angst I felt as a young mom.
Decisions that were all consuming for many, many years no longer occupy my every waking moment. Not because we no longer have small children, for we definitely do. Somehow it is easier now to make peace with the reality that every choice we make necessarily closes other doors. It is easier to trust that even if we don't select the very 'best' math program or music lesson or scout troop that God can still make everything work for good if our intentions are sincere. It is a little bit easier to feel in my heart that even if they aren't under my roof, we are still bound very tightly in our hearts.
I don't know where life is taking this girl of ours. She will be close by for a bit yet, taking advantage of this opportunity to see Europe. But I know that even when she leaves, she is still our own dear girl. And we are going to be ok. As she said in her commencement speech, "We've got this."
It isn't just kids that grow up. Families do too.
(the dads gave speeches as well as the girls' close friend, Sarah. Then the girls each shared some thoughts.)
Thank goodness for some levity at this point because there was not a dry eye by then!
All I am going to say about this is that dessert may or may not have been analogous to our homeschool journey. We sighed over Pinterest images of little cake pop graduates. Then, as we attempted a makeshift double boiler far too late the morning of the ceremony, our white chocolate 'seized'. We improvised with tiny 'diplomas' made of Ho-Ho's last minute. They worked. They were devoured. And no one was any worse for wear for having missed the cake pop experience. note this : )
It's been a marvelous ride, sweet girl.
Starry Sky Journal 
Oh, wow. So true this: ” It isn’t just kids that grow up. Families do too.” Congratulations to all!!
Amen Kim. To all of it! Our children are of our hearts forever. No other family or circumstance can give what God has in mind when he sends these people to us to raise. Your daughter is beautiful and ready for what life will hand her, you guys did a great job. Heck, I had tears just looking at the pictures!
Congrats! I think the hoho diplomas are brilliant! Cake pops are overrated. 🙂
“No one was any worse for wear for having missed the cake pop experience.” Noted. Oh, you KNOW I’m paying attention to every word of that. And this too: “Decisions that were all consuming for many, many years no longer occupy my every waking moment.” Why is it so hard to keep things in perspective as a young mom? I’m sure grateful for your reflections and experience, Kim.
Congratulations to your beautiful girl. She is so very lovely. And congratulations to you, Mama, for a job well done!
Sarah I think there are a couple different reasons why this is. First, we love our kids so intensely it is desperately important to us to give our all. But also, I admit that many of us enjoy the means to the desired ends so much that it is hard to choose because anything we don’t select is also an opportunity we (moms) miss out on personally too. We sorta avoid the the reality that kids can and do thrive just fine with just about anything done consistently so we can justify our expenditures of time and money doing what we find fascinating. (though it IS ok to enjoy this. We should!) Finally its just way more fun to plan than to implement most things. Its all theoretical and tidy and ideal on paper lol. Its fun to get lost in dreams and plans. But we are blessed in the doing.
Oh congratulations!! She looks so beautiful and happy! And I am seriously way more impressed that you saw a diploma in a ho-ho than with any ol’ cake pop you might have created. Perfectly simple, Kim. Never would’ve thought of that!
Your comment that “we sorta avoid the reality that kids can and do thrive just fine with just about anything done consistently” is really ringing true for me. That is what has become very apparent to me in the last year or so. When I chose ho-hos instead of cake pops (a new baby in the family will cause a mother to do such a thing!), I realized that they were learning just as much- more, actually, because we were being consistent and faithful to our daily work. Yes, we are blessed in the doing. So true.
Congratulations to Alannah and teacher Mom!!!!!! I’m so happy for the two of you!!! God bless!