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I'm kind of a mess

Wednesday, May 23, 2012
A few of my friends have kids graduating from high school this year (and last year too).  I have watched closely as they navigated SAT's, college applications, acceptances and rejections, prom sorority apps, etc.  I have also watched them go through all of the year end stuff.  I always ask my friends if they cried at their child's high school graduations and many of them don't.  Why is it that I am crying when I simply look at the invitation to the 5th grade "graduation" for Harry.  And I got totally teary at Will's awards ceremony for 8th grade last night.  What is wrong with me?  Dave says I am a sissy ;)  And I am always like this. Last week, at Will's high school orientation for Moms, I cried a tad listening to complete strangers talk about their boys graduating. There is something about change that is really hard for me.  I love seeing my boys grow into fabulous young men but there is a part of me that wants to freeze time too.

Onto Will...last night was the 8th grade awards ceremony at his school and he was honored twice.  Once was for the geography bee.  That boy does not even look at the material and does so well every year.  I wonder how far he could go if he actually prepared for it?!  He loves current events and world politics and geography.  He is a natural at it and could carry on a conversation with any adult regarding those topics better than I could.

He was also honored for his dissertation.  At his school some students do a dissertation. It is an elective and supposedly a challenge. It is a year long project aimed to make a difference in the community.  They need a corporate sponsor/partner and it is quite involved.  Will's group dissertation project had to do with providing healthy, clean drinking water (at the right temperature) throughout  public schools.  Apparently, many of the drinking fountains in public schools are not functioning or do not provide clean water at the proper temperatures. And the budget is not there to repair them! They won an award for their dissertation.

Will was also given an award last week for swim team and for being on honor roll the entire time he was on swim team.  In fact, he has been on the honor roll all throughout middle school (with almost all A's).  He also served as the Vice President  and Secretary (different years) of National Junior Honor Society.

We are really proud of you Will and we look forward to seeing what wonderful things you do in high school.

Here is Will and two of his favorite teachers...


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One of his Science teachers and the house principal.   She LOVES Will and always tells me what a respectful and fabulous kid he is.  We are hoping Harry gets in the same "house" next year.  They are  put into houses kind of like Harry Potter:)  They remain in that house all through middle school.  It is a fabulous way to build a smaller community within the school.

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Will's world cutlures/history teacher.  Will had the unique experience of having this teacher for 3 years in a row.  He was really a mentor to Will and wrote some recommendations for us for high school and various other things.  He always went out of his way to tell me what an incredible kid Will is.  Last night, he complimented Will's intellect and wit.  He is looking forward to teaching Harry next year too!


The gold tassel is for the kids who completed dissertations.  They wear them at graduation next
week too.

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And Kate and Will.  She was very proud of her brother and wants to bring his medal for the geography bee to show and tell this week:)

I had better go stock up on waterproof mascara as the next week is full of crying opportunities for me.  (and when I say cry I mean tear up....I don't sob or anything) Wish me luck!


34 comments:

  1. that is normal.. I have done it forever.... I will be a complete mess when my Grandbutton comes into this world in a few weeks.... it is our LOVE for our children.. you are far from a Sissy my friend..
    Love ya..

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  2. I am our family's cry baby. I have always been very sensitive. My oldest is graduating high school. I have cried at every award ceremony , mass and college discussion. I hate change so much that I have been crying most nights during TV season finales ??? Especially House, balled!!!

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    1. Oh Elizabeth! I am going to be a basket case senior year. I cannot imagine taking them to college. praying for you:)

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  3. Kim, when I read what you write, I almost have to take notes because I have something I want to say to so many points!

    1) I never cried sentimentally until I had children. Not even at my own wedding. But after kids? Weep, weep, weep. Well, here's a link to the mascara I use: I am a little on the makeup snob side, but my friend sells this and it is nexpensive and fabulous.

    http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?pf_id=41418

    2) Next year, my oldest enters the "middle school" section of the k-8 school he attends, and they do "houses." Happy to hear your good experience with this system.

    3) You are blessed, blessed, blessed. Congratulations!

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    1. Thank you Jeannine. Yes, we love the house system! I hoe it works well for y'all too.

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  4. Your totally normal! I do the same thing! Enjoy each moment as it all goes by so quickly!!

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  5. You have some precious children. I know you are so proud...and you should be! It does a *mommy-heart* good to hear people say kind things about them! I have a friend who is a *cryer.* I think it's a sign of a precious heart....Bring on the tears!

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  6. My oldest (of 3) graduated high school 2 years ago. I was pretty much inwardly sad the whole senior year and once May rolled around, I was a heaping mess of tears. And then the panic attacks set in..both times I had to put my head between my legs for fear of fainting. By the time graduation got here, I was pretty cried out and only had a couple of yearly moments.

    I was interested in who was emotional like me and who was not. I did a little informal survey among my friends and decided that the women who only had a couple of kids and had "wished away their children's youth"...you know the types that couldn't wait until their baby was out of diapers or until all their kids were in school--they were pretty unemotional and even happy about time marching on. The rest of us that cherish the day to day mundane and had bigger families seemed to have a harder time with graduations. I have thought each stage of childhood is way too short!

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  7. Completely normal. When Robert graduated from high school last year, I started crying when the first boy walked down the aisle and was still crying when the last one walked down the aisle. Heck I cried last week when my baby got her drivers license. It's just what mom's do ..... and it's ok :) Hang in there.

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  8. You are a very normal mommy who loves her kids deeply (as I do!) and are PROUD of them.
    Tears are my way of saying "well done" (I've always said it's NOT a good movie unless I cry!)

    I will prepare you for when Will goes away to college....CLEAR YOUR CALENDAR for at least the week he's getting ready to go! I can not believe the emotions that hit me...so very very hard. I finally called my hubby and said "This is by far the hardest thing I've ever done" (including giving birth 4 times)! He graduated on May 10th from college and I still cried...so PROUD of the wonderful man he's become. We've gone from parent/child to friends!
    So don't let ANYONE ever tell you NOT to cry! E V E R !!!!
    You will survive...just have those tissues close by!!!

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  9. When you find the perfect mascara, please let me know. My son turns 14 today and graduates 8th grade tomorrow. We received his yearbook on Monday and I can't stop with all the emotions!

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    1. Glenna...I have found the perfect mascara! It is Loreal telescopic. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. And it comes in waterproof too!!! People ask me al the time what mascara I use and I have recommended it to a million people and they all love it too. I should seriously get a commission. I did a post on it here...

      http://3peanuts.blogspot.com/2010/01/fridays-findsmy-drugstore-faves.html

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  10. Congratulations to Will!! I know he is gonna do so well in High School!!

    Speaking of EMOTIONS....Well meet the RAINING (and I mean RAINING not REIGNING) CHAMP since 1981 (the birth of my oldest child)!! I've been "raining tears" since then!! Every graduation, every program, every leaving for college and every first move from home!! Yep...that's me!! I have never cried like I have this year...I mean the UGLY CRY!! Yep, our 22yr old baby graduated from college this past Saturday. It came FULL CIRCLE that this day had finally arrived!! We all know that day....when the last "birdie" leaves the nest. God must have known I need a LOT more time or (a lot of tears left) for my NEST needed one more little birdie!! He blessed us with Brejanae. Well the FOUNTAIN OF TEARS have reopened for NEW BUSINESS!! She graduated from Pre-K just this morning!!! I was crying the UGLY CRY!! Poor kid has to endure 12yrs of that!!! Guess the other four kids can prepare her because they KNOW they Momma is just "over the top"...as they would say!

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  11. Always cried (and still do) at every event having to do with my children! I am a little sappy that way and almost teared up reading this! Great job will and to you and Dave too! Enjoy and always carry kleenex! :)

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  12. I cried yesterday..when our 5th grade safety patrol..said their final "have a great day!" to me.. As we get older we tend to reflect and realize time on this earth is a gift and so very precious.. I realized yesterday in 2 years I will have a HS, MS and Elementary school graduate.try beating those tears!!

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    1. I totally get it Beth....I am right there with ya.

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  13. I went to a graduation party last weekend for a girl I used to babysit and I almost cried just thinking of Molly getting older. I've got to blog about it, but I think you are totally normal!!

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  14. I have never commented before but I feel like I must today. I am the mom of 4 kids. I have been so fortunate to have been able to be a stay at home mom. I have loved every minute. Tonight my youngest will graduate pre-school and in less than 2 weeks my oldest will be graduating high school. I have been dreading this for a long time. I get so upset with myself because I dislike change so darn much. I have been crying my eyes out at night when everyone is asleep. There has been so many different events for the two of them and I really have not enjoyed any. The whole time I'm just trying to keep it together. I had the worst headache after holding back tears at my sons baseball banquet. They played a slide show..... the sad music... I'm sure you get what I mean. I can't believe this fall I will be spending my days home alone thanks to all day kindergarden. I am totally not ready for this to be over. And don't even get me started about packing up my "baby" and dropping him off at college. Not sure how you do that???? I have never wanted anything more than to be a mother. So after all my rambling I just wanted to say I don't really think it is our choice to cry or not. I don't think we can help it. Good luck!!! I will add you to my prayers.
    Andie

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    1. Andie, thank you for your sweet and thoughtful comment. Nice to "meet" you. You do have a lot of change going on and I will pray for you too. i cannot even imagine sending any of my kiddos away to college yet I know it will be here before I know it.

      Blessings,
      Kim

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  15. Long-time lurker, first time commenter. :-) I love your blog.

    I've been a single mother of twin boys since they were 2. When their dad and I divorced, he chose not be involved in their lives (his loss). Today is their 17th birthday. When they leave for college next year, I'll be alone. It doesn't take away from how happy I'll be for them. But I've already shed more than a few tears at the thought and I've got 15 months to go.

    We give our children roots and wings. Roots is easy. Wings are terribly difficult. Cry away!

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  16. I hear you! Our oldest is "moving up" to first grade and his end of K program is Friday - I tear up just thinking about it :)

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  17. Congratulations to Will and all of his accomplishments!! I must say .. I do not just tear up, but sob!! Such a cry baby .. even music gets to me!

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  18. You are practically making me cry with pride! What an amazing young man you have there! I better make sure I dont' forget his name, we might be seeing him in the White House one day....seems like hes onto big things, Kim!!
    I am sure your tears were happy tears for amazing accomplishments and sad tears for his growing up and not being able to push a pause button. I cried at both my boys high school graduations, like a baby (thank goodness for my sunglasses) and again at my sons college graduation, thankfully another sunny day and those same glasses came in handy once again!
    Its all good but just brings about a sea of emotions for us mothers who are reaping the award of immense pride after years of helping these kids to grow into the people they are now! Congrats to Harry, Will, Kate and your entire family!

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  19. Ok don't get me started too!!! Dayton will be a senior next week! Your family is so amazing, you should be so proud! Double up on the mascara!!!

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  20. Right there with you Kim! (And my oldest is just "graduating" into middle school!) I got so teary-eyed at the children's field day- I'm wondering what will happen tomorrow when the fifth graders run through the tunnel the whole school (& sometimes even the parents & bus drivers) make for them. Oh dear!!!

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  21. you are not alone....
    i have several friends walking through the same feelings right now.

    it's the thought of 'someday' letting go....
    i still go through it today.

    best regards,
    renee

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  22. Such a proud Momma (and who wouldn't be, WOW WILL!)- nothing wrong at all with crying, don't you worry one single bit about it. It just means you've got a tender heart...which we all knew anyway!

    Hugs Kim-
    Carolyn

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  23. You're not a Sissy, you are tender-hearted and I absolutely LOVE this about you!

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  24. Congratulations to your son! Love the last photo! Yes, I tear up at anything sentimental, such kind emotions have always brought out the joy! You just enjoy all the wonderful experiences with your family!

    Alyzabeth's Mommy

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  25. This is sweet Kim, I can be the same way and sometimes it's not just sobbing. And at the least expected times! :) Congrats to Will on his many accomplishments!!!
    xo

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  26. Your not a sissy, you are a GREAT MOM. I cry at alot of things also. When my grandson Powell graduated from high school I started crying when the buses pulled up to the ceremony driving them on their very last bus ride. We are just very tendered hearted.

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Thank you for your kindness.