Family

Today my proud mom thoughts turn to my boy. Yesterday I got an email from Joshua’s school asking for photos since they are putting together a graduation slideshow. Joshua’s school journey has been anything but normal. He’s literally done every kind of school there is, I think…semi-private kindergarten to the public government school in South Africa to homeschool in America to public school in America back to homeschool in South Africa to a sort of homeschool taught by a real teacher (not me) in South Africa to private school to online school to finally ending with a charter school in Texas. He’s adapted to each one so easily. I stayed in the same school district with mostly the same kids from 1st grade until I graduated. I can’t imagine having to adapt to so much change, but he’s done it.

He finished high school early, back in November. They asked us if he wanted to participate in graduation in May. At the time, we weren’t sure where we’d be, so he opted out of donning a cap and gown. And here we are now, in the middle of a pandemic, where walking the stage isn’t even possible.

As I’ve looked back on photos of Joshua throughout his childhood, I am struck by how they’ve captured just who he is. This kid is hilarious and has a golden sense of humor. I say he’s like me in that. He says he’s not at all like me, because he’s actually funny. I have to laugh at the time he went to school dressed in a cardboard box or the time we were camping and he put on knit gloves and goggles to tend the fire. And though this boy of mine is totally content being an introvert, his sense of adventure is clearly evident. We’ve traveled the world with our kids, and Joshua’s always been one excited to experience it all.

As we close this chapter of high school and I get all nostalgic looking at photos filled with such beautiful memories, I feel a twinge of bittersweetness as we embark on the next season of life with an adult child. I’m also excited on the memories to be made in this new season.

Some days I think we’re as different as night and day. Other days, like today, as she sits taking an AP exam while I type this, and I see her hard work and discipline to achieve, I think that maybe we’re more alike than I thought. Either way, I’m so proud of her.

This week we’re coming to the end of her freshman year (which has been the longest freshman year ever that started January 2019 and only ends now…that’s what happens when you change schools on different continents with different start and end dates). I can’t believe she’s already finishing one year of school in America. This move has probably been the hardest for her and yet she’s handled it with such grace and determination. I’m super proud of her for making the decision to make the best out of it even though it has been incredibly hard.

Grieving our move from South Africa to America has come in different waves and stages. We’re all still adjusting, even a year later. Today I’m just especially thankful for my kids and their resilience and intent to make something the best it can be.