Grad cards that inspire
This month my eldest will graduate from high school and turn 18. This is a whole lot of growing up happening in one month…for both daughter and mom.
To mark the occasion I’m sharing some of my favorite graduation cards….and some tidbits of wisdom I’ve learned from a certain graduate.
Questions quota
I’m pretty certain one of the biggest things I’m learning through these teen years is to sew my mouth shut. Really tight. I have a short window, mere seconds to ask maybe one or two questions about anything; their day, friends, plans etc. If I go over this quota, the bars slam down and said window is sealed shut. Really tight.
My teens are teaching me to recognize when they want to talk is not necessarily when I want to talk. The less I talk, the more they do. Sounds easy, but pretty darn hard. Did I mention that the window to talk is open most often late, late at night when I’m most tired? Yeah. Explains those dark circles under my eyes.
No big deal
My graduate has always had an aversion to being center of attention so occasions like this are not her favorite (and, believe me, that’s an understatement).
She doesn’t see the need to make a fuss, the need to get all gussied up and sit for several hours listening to people drone on and on in speeches. She would rather just get on with things, make things happen.
So while you might remember your high school grad with fondness remember that they may not. Let them set the tone, the pace, the style for their day, but remember, this could all change the week before grad and you will need to go with the flow. “Chill,” they will say.
Future is the future
Graduating from high school forces students to decide, while a mere teenage, what they want to do for the rest of their life. There is this unwritten pressure to have it all figured out, where they want to go, what they want to study (or not), what they want to do. It can be overwhelming and paralyzing.
The future will happen no matter if we worry ourselves silly about it or not. This adventure called “adulthood” can be as exciting as it is scary. I think that if we adults pretend or convey that we have it all figured out we aren’t doing our graduates any favor. We need to keep in mind the future is unknown no matter how prepared we are.
Bless the mess
Certain rooms of my house turn into a disaster zone when intense studying happens. Piles of papers, laptop, textbooks, I don’t know how many drinking glasses, food, all of it seem to grow exponentially as time passes. Once the mess becomes too much for my graduate she moves into another room only to begin a new mess.
This used to drive me crazy, but she has taught me to focus on what’s more important. Her. Not the mess, not the marks even, just her. Bless the mess is my new motto.
Celebrate tiny
Although graduating from high school is undoubtedly a major accomplishment in life, celebrating the ‘tiny’ is important too. Recognizing the effort and work behind a major essay, making it to school on time, walking in stiletto heels, all of the tiny things that lead up to the ‘biggie’ of high school graduation.
This card above probably captures the sentiments of my daughter the best. Understated, hilarious, clever, beautiful. This card has it all and so does she.
What memories of your high school grad do you have?