Bryce, my #3 son (in age only) "graduated" from the 6th grade. I have often wondered why we celebrate something that isn't really such a milestone - but I felt proud as a dad that he had "made it" that far. It made me reflect on what I was feeling when I was his age. In my house we have a saying - you're a little kid until you get hair under your arms. Kind of crude, yes - but think about it for a minute. (yes, we're a house full of boys - with one lonely girl - mom, who is woefully outnumbered and sometimes overwhelmed with foot odor and flatulence.) I digress.
I remember "finally" getting out of the 6th grade and feeling at last, I was no longer a little kid. Pretty heady stuff - and very exciting. I remember another thing happening as well - I got "promoted" into Youth group at church. I remember my first time at Jr. High Summer camp, and my first youth All-nighter. It was awesome. I felt like I had finally arrived!
My son Bryce had his first Wednesday nite in Youth group and is leaving for Jr. High Summer camp this afternoon. I'm sure he'll do fine, but I'm a little choked up.
We had another event recently as well. Cameron (son #2) had his own little "rite of passage" - he's been shaving since he was 11 or 12 so he's past all that - but he got his driver's license the same week as graduation.
He has also started a full-time summer job, (where I work), opened a bank account and bought some new clothes. Ah, to have "disposable" income again.....what would that be like? Maybe he'll be nice and pitch in for gas next week.....hmmm.
And lastly Darian, our eldest, Graduated from High School May 30th and promtly moved into his own apartment a few blocks away. What I find disturbing is that he left a bunch of stuff in his room and hasn't come back to clean it up so we can use it! It also seems like we have seen more of him lately than we did prior to when he moved out.
I have had parents at church ask me how I did it - got him to move out that is? I don't know! He just started looking for an apartment a couple of months before school got out and "voila!" he was moving in the week after graduation. He'll be going to Illinois College in town for a couple of years and then the plan is to transfer to Edwardsvill to finish up an engineering degree. I never got past high school algebra, but that is a story for another day. Darian - we're proud of you, but could you come get the rest of your stuff out of your old room?
So, you can see, it is bittersweet seeing your sons grow up.
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