Watching my baby be recognized for his outstanding achievements over the last four years was one of my proudest moments.
Watching him pack up his room.
Watching him embrace all of his friends and teachers for the last time.
Watching him say his heartfelt good-byes.
Watching him smoke his graduation cigar.
Watching him get out of his school clothes and put on his Tulane T-shirt. (There was no denying the symbolism)
Watching him hug us good-bye.
Feeling his arms around me and then watching him walk away.
Watching as he leaves.
I can feel the tug of my heart being pulled a little further than it’s used to. He’s been in Asheville for four years, but he was still a child, still required a mother even if he didn’t need one. Now….. there is no requirement and I know it. He is an adult. He can go and do as he pleases. He may never come home. My heart is breaking, or is it growing? It’s feeling the tug. It’s feeling the stretch, and I need to adjust to this new sensation. With tears I write. I know he has places to go and things to see. But i wasn’t ready to let go. I wasn’t ready to be done with him. Eighteen years went so fast.
However, I am bursting at the seams with pride. I want to shout from the rooftops that Bronson is my son. He is my baby. He always will be. But today there is an undeniable change. It’s tangible. I’ve done my part mothering, now I just get to be his friend.
Good-bye baby.
Please remember me.
you dont look old enough to have an 18 year old!!
*sniff* Congrats, & boy it’s hard to see them grow up sometimes, isn’t it? Our oldest just turned 20 this week and OH MY it doesn’t seem right!
You have a beautiful son
I want to hear all about the ceremony! Congratulations to Bronson and to you for getting him through school with flying colors. He’s so much like you!!
This scares me to read…my kids are still babies but they are growing so dang fast it is terrifying!
So wonderful. Congratulations!
Lovely post. I like the part about your heart GROWING, not breaking.
But, um, don’t be so sure he won’t be back. My 44 year old step daughter (and her new husband and big dog) are moving BACK in with us for 8 (OMG very long) months while they put an addition on their house. So don’t be so sure your baby is gone forever and will forget you cuz you just never know when a kid will “come home again”. I’m guessing in about 30 days I’ll be praying our “kids” had forgotten us
sniff sniff you are making me cry Sandi..My oldest graduates in two years and I am NOT every going to be prepared for it…no way
Oh and they won’t ever leave home I can assure you…lol
Glad you are having a good time
I’m smiling and crying and bursting at the seams with pride, right along with you, Sandi!
He will remember you. YOu are his mom. And he is a mommas boy so dont worry. I love you and love all that you write!!! THanks so much!!!
Stop. Stop. My baby graduates next Saturday, and I already get teary just thinking about it. Such a huge milestone in both our lives.
Congratulations, Bronson!
(And girl you look hot with that dark hair!)
Congrats to Mom, (Brandon for his $$$) and Bronson. I know it is a lot of work and support to get to this point in life.
you’ve done well, congrats!
*gulp*
You are right to be a proud Mama – your “boy” has done so well!
Boys always need their Mothers, so there is not doubt that he’ll never be too far away.
x
Oh, that picture of him walking away. Tears. He looks so confident and happy. Congratulations, mom, on raising a son with a look and a smile like that. He’ll come back to see his mom, it’s written all over his face.
You’ve done well & raised a son that has confidence in his ability. His face is full of excitement, hope, and curiosity. You have given him a great base to go on Sandi! He will do great things!
Don’t cry shopgirl… the mom-job will never be done. I know you know that! He’ll still need you desperately when he’s 60 and you are 80! It isn’t closing a door but opening new rooms in a giant house to explore -with new ways to mother.
And look what a fine man you helped create….
He’s beautiful Sandi! You must be so proud. Congratulations!!!
So sweet, tugged on my heart as my first baby will graduate next year, I still feel like 4 was just yesterday.
You will always be Mom, 18 yrs of love and nurturing doesn’t just go away because they are out of the nest, it’s always in their hearts
Woohoo, Bronson!!
“Good-bye baby. Please remember me.”
Jeez, Sandi. That’s not tugging at our heartstrings. It’s yanking at them visciously!
Oh my heart!
Congrats to your handsome son.
Hugs to you.
A big congrats to you!!
I can’t imagine how it must feel to watch him go. I don’t know how I’m going to react when it happens to my kiddies…