To My Son As You Begin High School

Wasn’t it just yesterday that I took SIX positive pregnancy tests and said to your Dad, “I THINK I’m pregnant?” The shock of you entering our world quickly turned into an all-consuming, do-anything-for, life-changing kind of love. The moment they placed you in my arms, son, my world expanded and I knew nothing would ever be the same – life was forever better because you were in it. 

Now you are about to walk into your first year of high school and I still can’t figure out where the time went. It’s so true what they say – the days are long but the years go by so fast. We have packed a lot of fun, a lot of memories, and A LOT of learning together in these past fourteen years, and I know we have more to learn together. 

We’ve been more strict with you than your younger siblings because I so wanted to get this parenting thing right. Becoming your mom brought out all the perfectionist tendencies in me and I just didn’t want to screw you up. I have since wised up enough to know that I can’t parent you perfectly; I have and will continue to screw up, but I promise I will be real when I do. I’ll do my best to hear your perspective and admit when I am wrong or don’t know what the right decision is.

In these next four years:

You will have your first love and your first heartbreak, and, though I wish I could shield you from it, sometimes we learn more in life from the things that are painful.

You will struggle through your AP class load but I know you can do it. You, my son, are one of the most naturally smart people I know. Up until now, you haven’t had to work for good grades but things will be different in high school. It will take work, but you can do it.

You will learn to drive a car! I know I should be freaked out at the prospect of this, but you are trustworthy. Honestly, I can’t wait to have another driver in the family (have you seen all the kids that live in this house?).

You will win basketball games and lose basketball games and even add some new hobbies and passions to your repertoire that surprise you. 

You will make new friends and old friendships may fade away. Don’t discount a friendship just because it was for one place in time – remember what that friendship meant to you and honor what that was. 

You will begin to dream new dreams for the future. I hope those dreams continue to be just a little out of reach. Dreams that you have to work for and that you feel a sense of accomplishment well up with the achievement of.

I dream for you too my son whom I can no longer rock or hold in my arms. My dreams for you are of the man I already see you becoming. You are a leader by action with a strong sense of justice and you’re never afraid to stand up for what’s right or someone else’s best interest. I dream for you to never lose sight of who and whose you are, to be confident in all you do, and to love others you come in contact with – even the really weird ones- because you will find that when you do, you are doing what is right. 

I am proud of you, my son. As you walk through those doors to your high school career, know that you carry me with you (you may roll your eyes at that and think you don’t need me, but you still do). If I have learned anything in life, it is that we need each other. People need other people to survive and grow and learn from. I have learned so much from being your mom. Your journey is just beginning. Here’s to all the learning we will do together as you begin high school.