Isn't this supposed to be a happy time?

If graduation (which entails the exodus of our children from our homes to spread their wings, embrace adulthood, continue their educations, seek summer employment, etc.) is supposed to be a joyous occasion, then why did we all cry like babies last night?

The teenager doesn't graduate until next Friday night, but last night we attended the graduation of our best friends' daughter, Sara.  She and Skyler started K-4 together and remained in the same district until Skyler reached the 6th grade, at which time we made the decision to move her to the school where I was currently teaching.  The "first" was a small community school district where we knew everyone, attended church together, softball practice, baptisms, etc. It was hard to move her, but we felt she would be better off in a bigger district because of the academic advantages that sometimes affords.

Anyway, back to my sad night.  We were so very proud of the accomplishments of these young men and women and we parents did a pretty good job of stiffling the tears until the class song was played during the Rose Ceremony.  By the time the song ended, I was sobbing.  Don was a little misty-eyed, too.  Keep in mind, this wasn't even our kid's graduation.

I guess what makes this occasion so bittersweet is the memory of the first day that these kiddos started school.  Some of them were happy to be there; some (Skyler for one) cried into my photograph for the first week and begged never to return.  The stories of their experiences at school, the drama, the romance, the arguments, and fist fights.  The bus rides, the ball practices, the dates, and the accidents.  There are a million memories attached to this graduating class, many of whom had been together for thirteen years. 

Bittersweet, too, because this time is ending and a new chapter is beginning.  Will it be a happy chapter?  Only time will tell.  But for now, we are proud.  Not just of them, but of us, too.  Didn't we help with homework, projects, and test preparation? 

It WAS a happy night.  I guess I just got a little sentimental.  Imagine what shape I'll be in next Friday, when my own graduate throws her cap?

Sometimes I Feel Like an ATM

Sometimes I feel like an ATM.  Almost daily, the teenager shouts down from her bedroom (pedestal/royal tower...whatever you want to call it) for me to please leave money on the kitchen counter for her.  She needs cash to fill up her fuel tank, cash for something at school, cash for this, cash for that.  Well, it all adds up!  She recently went through $53.00 in gas in ONE weekend!

I know that I am "supposed" to provide for her (although she is legally 18 now), but I can't help but wish that she was thankful or considerate in how she spends the money.  It is difficult to hand someone money who immediately grumbles about the small amount.  This morning she asked for $5.00.  I gave her a $20.00 and told her to bring back the change.  Suddenly, she needed $20.00 and the argument began! Ugh!!

Don called at noon with a run-down of expenditures on her for today alone: $350.00 to repair the bumper of a vehicle she backed into last weekend; $185.00 to replace her broken windshield (it was fine in December); $55.00 for an oil change; $60 for gas.  I will be interested to hear if she bothered to say thank you.

I found out yesterday that she's misplaced a textbook and the school said that if she wants to "walk" at graduation, she must pay the $104.00 to replace it!

Well, this ATM is about to run out of money! I will be so glad when she learns that it really doesn't grow on trees.  She has ignorantly made remarks in the past about our "wealth".  Her perception of our debt-to-income ratio is extremely skewed!  Please God, let the concept of money and its value begin to make sense to her soon!!!