It's August 2013.
11 years ago this month, in August of 2002, my oldest child started middle school. I remember the feelings of apprehension as we too, became middle school parents. The angst, the anxiety, the changing of classes, lockers, the physical and mental CHANGES, the realization that our child was no longer a CHILD.
Eight years ago this month, our eldest moved to the high school. Yay! High school football Friday nights, fall carnivals and Homecoming, plus PROM! But also, more angst over understanding every grade counted towards college admission, choosing the RIGHT honors and AP courses, while making sure you could get thru football practices and the Eagle Scout project too!
Then that bright Fall morning arrived, four years ago this past Friday... And we dropped that same oldest child off at his dream college, Appalachian State. As first time college parents, we were positive he was "grown," and we had prepared him for "adult" life.... Well, almost. After a VERY rocky first year (grade-wise), that handsome oldest boy began to hit each goal and milestone... And do quite well. He also met the sweetest gal ever freshman year, and has managed to build a beautiful relationship with her and both our families. And even get a history education degree in the process!
Finally, its August again... And this past Thursday, four years almost to the day since he started college, and 11 years since middle school, he got his first job. Ironically, Andrew gets to go back to... MIDDLE SCHOOL! :D
As his mom, I find an absolutely ironic humor in this.... Middle school, and seventh grade in particular, was quite possibly Andrew's most challenging year growing up. Maybe that's why, we noticed, every summer lately, he was a rock star on campus with the middle school boys at Cherokee Scout Reservation. He relates and uniquely understands them and understands the angst of the middle school even more than most. So tomorrow...as Andrew begins another milestone in his life, as his mom, I know he'll succeed. God has uniquely and quite purposefully, put him exactly where He needs him to be. He made that quite clear this past week.
And once again, on the day that he begins at South Davie Middle School, I'll be on my knees praying for his success, because that's what moms do... Even when those great big boys grow up and begin their adult lives, we moms continue to pray. Because that's the best job I've ever had the pleasure of doing, being a mom.
And so the craziness of August and its milestones begin again. Alexandra moved into her very first apartment last Thursday to start her sophomore year at UNCC. And maybe most gut-wrenching of all for me personally, my baby boy, Carson, begins his senior year of high school in a week. After years and years of "first day of school pics," we've finally reached the last one.
Thank you Lord, for this moment. My crazy, insane boys, their dad, and Andrew's friend, Kendal, are currently gathered around our table laughing hysterically, throwing cards and insults, as their dad loses miserably at a game of Yugio... Pulled back out of the recesses of Andrew's middle school years. Guess Drew's getting in the mindset....love them. ;) BLESSED.
