Dad hits the home stretch with the class of '14

Parent Cafe
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<p>So it has come to this. The applications are in, and some acceptances too. I'm trying to hold it together as I think about how far she's come, and how we got to this place:</p>

<p>The first time I read Dr. Seuss, and the first word she read ("cat").</p>

<p>The informal visits through grade school and junior high, just to show her that college is expected, normal, a necessary step. </p>

<p>The struggles with Math, the "gifted and talented" tag for English, the bad teachers, the good, the life-changers.</p>

<p>The music teacher who dragged 80 kids to Europe, and the music teacher who fought a losing battle with cancer.</p>

<p>The 7th grade ACT tracking tests, the PSAT and the ones that counted. </p>

<p>Watching upperclass friends from HS theater leave for NYU and Brown and elsewhere.</p>

<p>The high school ups and downs, dates, APs. The first steps, the first class, the first recital, the first scratchy sounds from the viola and the "I" at State, the first Daddy-Daughter dance - and the last. </p>

<p>I just read a recommendation from one of her teachers that brought me to tears, knowing it had somehow all worked, even with the moves and the struggles and everything else that 21st century life throws at them, and that a genuine "good kid" emerged on the other end.</p>

<p>Here's to the HS class of 2010.</p>

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<p>Congratulations :slight_smile:
Time goes fast indeed…</p>

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<p>This is great. I hope you share it with your d! :)</p>

<p>I’ve often said I want a 6 year old to sit on the couch and read with me. Watching them grow up - maybe it’s more poignant with d’s - has been a fascinating, amazing, incredible journey. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Just sometimes wish time would slow down.</p>

<p>And like you, I’m very thankful for the teachers and other mentors my d has in her life.</p>

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<p>I was just thinking about DS’s kindergarten class. I remember all the faces of his little classmates so well, and now they’re all young men and women! It takes my breath away. I’ll be one of those sobbing mothers at HS graduation, I’m afraid.</p>

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<p>MSUDad: I know how you feel…</p>

<p>I can barely look at S2 (the last) without a rush of emotion and flashbacks. He has turned out to be such a wonderful young man. Must have been his mom’s influence. He also has acceptances under his belt, done all he has had to do to make things turn out well, and even better, cooked a wonderful dinner last night of chicken marsala for the family. </p>

<p>There are so many great kids out there, yes, hat’s off to the class of 2010.</p>

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<p>Today the mail brought me an envelope from the kids private high school. I cried because inside there was only ONE renewal application. Yikes…our babies are leaving the nest!</p>

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<p>My sister assures me that the future holds lots of good memories too, but I’ve got to believe that the absence is gonna be tough to handle</p>

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<p>Beautifully said! Thanks!</p>

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<p>Aww. I almost made it through the whole day without crying. Then I read this thread.</p>

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<p>It’s been an amazingly long journey for me. I’m a Jr now, but I realize college is just around the corner. It’s been an absolutely memorable 2nd stage of my life - from Kindergarten till the point I’m at now. I can remember back in 2nd grade adding up 180 + 180 + 180, etc… to find out how many days it was till I graduated. I remember my report cards said “YOG: 2011” at the top, and thinking that day would never come.</p>

<p>It’s been an adventurous and enjoyable 11 years, this phase coming to an end about 16 months from now. It’s gone by incredibly quick. There are certainly a lot of people I have to thank that have changed my life over the past 11 years. For teachers, I think that’s the best complement that you can receive: “Thanks - You have had a huge impact on my life.”</p>

<p>It’s sad to move on from this stage of my life, but at the same time, I’m really anxious for what lies ahead.</p>

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<p>This thread reminds me of something I wrote to my best friend (we’re college seniors) in her Christmas gift this year:</p>

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<p>beatiful, made me cry. </p>

<p>thanks</p>