Tara’s Takes
Well, the week is here. The week I knew was coming since the school year started. The one I told myself I was 100% prepared for. The one I lied to myself about all year.
I saw a social media post this week that showed a mom getting ready for graduation. It said that moms who don’t want to deal with the emotions of graduation become the task managers. They put all their energy into the “things” that need to be done to distract them from the emotions of graduation.
I am absolutely in that boat. I have list upon list. I have a list in my notes app that I keep updating and sending to my boys to get things done. Natalie has helped tremendously when she can but she is still in school until Thursday with her graduation Thursday night.
So between the insane number of year-end events we’re covering, the commercial work and the weekly paper, I am working on my list. Every time I take an item off that list, I find another item that should be added to that list.
On Sunday, I was adding mulch to the front area of the house by myself. I had my headphones on. My music was blaring in my ears as I was working away. I had all the thoughts going through my head of the week ahead of us.
Natalie is graduating Holy Redeemer School on Thursday night. She will go from a class of 20 to a class of over 200. For the last few years, we have hosted a New Year’s Eve sleepover for the girls in her class. I am not having all the girls from her Marshall High School class piled in my living room. But how will her friendships change as she enters this new stage? She may not have a single class with the friends she’s hung out with since preschool.
Speaking of preschool, Brady started Wee Care Preschool at HRS in 2009. When we walk out of the school Thursday night, that will end a 17-year chapter in our family.
I know as we sit in the chapel on Thursday night for graduation mass, Per will pat my leg when he sees tears in my eyes. I also know that my boys will give me all kinds of grief if I cry because I didn’t cry at their graduations from HRS.
Then only 24 hours later, we’ll be seated in the Marshall High School gym to watch Ben graduate. I am so proud of all my kids. But one thing that is nonnegotiable in my house is grades. Getting a B is fine if you are actually putting in the effort; however getting a C because it’s good enough isn’t. I hold my kids to very high standards because I know they can meet them.
First Brady and now Ben will graduate Summa Cum Laude Friday night. Ben has a natural gift when it comes to grades that has taken him far. But this year he challenged himself with tougher courses and AP classes. He found out that Business Stats is not his favorite class but he buckled down when needed to complete assignments and study for test.
When he walks across that stage on Friday night, I know he has built a great group of friends he will stay in touch with and has had experiences that have helped shape him and prepare him for Iowa State.
I also know that it means I’ll have more kids leaving the house in the fall than living at home. I love hanging out with my kids. Backyard bean bag games and the trash talking that goes with it are some of my favorite summer nights. Tackling projects that mom comes up with because she can’t do it all alone turn into memories and usually lots of laughter.
I know graduation doesn’t mean those things will end. And I’m really looking forward to Natalie and I having time we’ve never had when it’s just the two of us. But it’s a real and big change.
So yes, if you see me this week before graduation, or next week as we prepare for Ben’s party, know I am probably deep into a list that may or may not be needed to keep things on track. But it is 100% needed to keep me grounded and a little less emotional.
