The Graduate

Can you see his head? Behind the purple shirt in front? The need to seat them alphabetically meant that he and one of the other shortest boys in the class were next to each other, but *behind* some rather taller, bigger boys! Oh well, we were luck and sat on the right side to have the best view of him. Unfortunately, I forgot the lesson I had learned in Chicago about how zooming and then using the flash creates fuzzy pics…so the rest of my interior shots are worthless. I did fine. Just a few tears mostly thanks to a mom who sat near me who is a tear making machine – and whose son was given a citizenship award which was unexpected and sent her into more rounds of crying. It was sweet really 🙂 Anyhow, here is the little graduate afterwards.

He’s wearing a Filipino shirt that he wore for his dad’s wedding. Very nice.

Now we are heading out to a graduation party. Pool time, dinner and dancing at a local hotel. Oh, and his report card came in the mail. All those horrid grades in Feb? He raised all but one (writing) so ended with just one C and B+ and A- on the others.  Especially with math, I know that took a lot of extra credit work! Of course, that C in writing makes me wonder how the devil he got recommended for honors English in 7th grade!!

7 years though. Done. Over. No more drop offs. No more stressing over turning in the next hot lunch form on time. No more jog-a-thons or dancefests or winter programs. The principal implored us to have more kids as she said goodbye to us. Nah, not me, thank you very much, but…I know where she was coming from with that. It’s hard to say goodbye to the security of elementary school. Their longest tenure in their education. Where they grow from mere oversized babies with baby teeth and baby fat…into pre-teens. From the nurturing, warm atmosphere of K and 1st grade to the transition years in 2nd and 3rd where they still need some love, but have to start really picking up the work ethic and learning, to the final 3 years when academics really takes over and they get more serious about their extra curricular activities.

Good thing he still sleeps with his blue bear 🙂