Well, THAT happened. I am now, it appears, the mother of an adult child. What a trip!
I seriously think I've spent most of the month with my nose deep in the photo boxes and photo albums. It helped - that slow leak of tears. On his birthday, it was nothing but fun and celebration. We spent the blizzard with some of his friends on a mountain he's grown up on, doing just exactly what he loves. His siblings showered him with what they know he loves and he was gracious about it all. It was sweet.
A friend of older children once told me to 'cry early and cry often' during Senior Year, in hopes of not being the one who holds it in all year and then falls apart at graduation. I might still fall apart at graduation, but it won't be for lack of trying to pace myself through this year. Sadness, yes, at what is no longer. But just as much the tears trickle out from pride and overflowing love. Excitement and anticipation too, for what comes next for him, and for all of us together as a family.
Love, love, love...so much of it. Eighteen years worth.
