.. We spent Father's day with my inlaws as per usual. What was unusual was not one of my father-in-law's biological children were in attendance. When I casually mentioned it to Lowell, he said, "Oh that's true." noticing it for the first time and in prompt parental fashion defended there whereabouts. Keith had golfed with him earlier in the week, Margo and Bruce had called and are on their way in later this week for the anniversary...all is good there. My point being the spattering of daughter-in law's and grandchildren held joy in after all what is just one day in a very family -filled summer.
In fast forward motion, I realize that only too soon there will be everydays and holidays without my only child in attendance. We have bestowed a sense of priority for the special occasions of those around us, not always successful..but the heart is there.
So, when the day comes and the phone rings and Katrina says, " Mom, will you mind if I go home with....... for Thanksgiving?' will I be able to be able to bite my homesick tongue and be "Ok " celebrating without her or at best an "alternative holiday"? Sharing, that skill aptly learned as a pre-schooler is one we are reminded of many times in the next year as parents.
From college applications, interviews and auditions, I begin to contemplate all the ways in which we will be "sharing" our girl and her accomplishments with tons of new people this year . She has a truly unique set of experiences that will serve her well as the stepping stones to her version of "success".
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
The Journey Begins...
...So, I have promised Katrina I will not remind her of this imminent countdown out loud. she says that will annoy her. (btw---it is 359 days! -- I hope that is not as "annoying " in print...)
It got me thinking as to why I become so date & time oriented on these kind of events when to know me, is to know I am a incredible procrastinator. Yet, I have this fascination with planning ahead. I become very detail-oriented when I first can see the big picture.
Today... on a quiet summer morning here , I can't help but be reflective... I am working on a project for my in-laws 50th Anniversary. This has led me to plowing through years of boxes of disheveled photos, seemingly afterthoughts of the past. Yet, I look at each within the moment it was taken and marvel how significant it was then and now. I begin to ponder what projects could be taken on with these photos for graduation and the glimmer of excitement for that creative process begins..
I will put aside the picture of three year old Katrina entering Friends School for the first time, in awe of how that choice, as well as many others since, were the forks in the road we were glad we took.
Now, comes the time to be in awe of my daughter. Her awesome ability to know her learning style and keen awareness of how to advocate for herself will be the driving forces this year. I am simply along for the ride!! (OH, that is if I she can arise before NOON this summer! HA!)
It got me thinking as to why I become so date & time oriented on these kind of events when to know me, is to know I am a incredible procrastinator. Yet, I have this fascination with planning ahead. I become very detail-oriented when I first can see the big picture.
Today... on a quiet summer morning here , I can't help but be reflective... I am working on a project for my in-laws 50th Anniversary. This has led me to plowing through years of boxes of disheveled photos, seemingly afterthoughts of the past. Yet, I look at each within the moment it was taken and marvel how significant it was then and now. I begin to ponder what projects could be taken on with these photos for graduation and the glimmer of excitement for that creative process begins..
I will put aside the picture of three year old Katrina entering Friends School for the first time, in awe of how that choice, as well as many others since, were the forks in the road we were glad we took.
Now, comes the time to be in awe of my daughter. Her awesome ability to know her learning style and keen awareness of how to advocate for herself will be the driving forces this year. I am simply along for the ride!! (OH, that is if I she can arise before NOON this summer! HA!)
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Intro
About a month ago, when skimming the Montessori High School calender for the next year, I saw it..... June 9, 2013. The date my only child, Katrina will graduate . Frozen, I just sat startled, clicked on my "Retrospective Playlist" on Spotify and had a quiet WOW moment.
Then, the whirl in my brain began and I started to plan out her graduation party!! ( It's just what I do!!) Who should I send the Save the Date cards to? When to have a party and how to do the combined family/friend type event... What unique party can we throw??
Within the next few days, as the graduation notices and party invites rolled in we decided it was time to take a step back in time.
We attend the graduation parties of a couple of her early classmates, dined with many of her friends from that era, including her four year pre-school teacher and visited the old location of Friends School Elementary. She had the moment of "This all looks so small now..It use to seem HUGE"... She even located the very spot where she cracked her head open while running laps (on the curve where the sidewalk meets the grass). I sat in the small tunnels and had deja vu moments. Hours spent conversing about the stories of the day with fellow parents ,
pictures taken of almost every spot, snapshots of the beginnings of an educational ride....
Sitting at my first Montessori High School graduation last Sunday, I observed many other parents of incoming SENIORS shedding tears .. whether they were touched by the ceremony , had a personal connection with a graduate, or were looking into our collective future (or all of the above), there were knowing glances passed amongst this small community..
This blog will be my way of sharing my thoughts on this last year before Katrina heads off to college and what twists and turns THAT will bring!!
361 DAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then, the whirl in my brain began and I started to plan out her graduation party!! ( It's just what I do!!) Who should I send the Save the Date cards to? When to have a party and how to do the combined family/friend type event... What unique party can we throw??
Within the next few days, as the graduation notices and party invites rolled in we decided it was time to take a step back in time.
We attend the graduation parties of a couple of her early classmates, dined with many of her friends from that era, including her four year pre-school teacher and visited the old location of Friends School Elementary. She had the moment of "This all looks so small now..It use to seem HUGE"... She even located the very spot where she cracked her head open while running laps (on the curve where the sidewalk meets the grass). I sat in the small tunnels and had deja vu moments. Hours spent conversing about the stories of the day with fellow parents ,
pictures taken of almost every spot, snapshots of the beginnings of an educational ride....
Sitting at my first Montessori High School graduation last Sunday, I observed many other parents of incoming SENIORS shedding tears .. whether they were touched by the ceremony , had a personal connection with a graduate, or were looking into our collective future (or all of the above), there were knowing glances passed amongst this small community..
This blog will be my way of sharing my thoughts on this last year before Katrina heads off to college and what twists and turns THAT will bring!!
361 DAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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