A Sentiment

God knew what He was doing when He sent a gentle breeze and brought a lovely butterfly to set my heart at ease. The happiness of your friendship and the gentleness of your words have touched my life in special ways and now I feel assured. Thank you for your loyalty and for reading everyday. I only hope you find things to make a happy day.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

A Graduation

This is a picture of part of the crowd of family and friends for the 8th grade graduation. Our Grandson, Tyler, was in a class of about 350 kids. This is only half of the 8th grade from his town. The other half graduates tonight. We made the hour and a half drive into his town on a perfect Spring evening. The school is huge. The boys were dressed very nicely. Long sleeved shirts and dress pants. Only a couple of strange hairdos this year. The girls were another story. What has happened to the girls? Tiny short dresses, lots of cleavage showing, some in stockings of lace or fishnet, the occasional hairdo with stripes of pink. Am I an old lady or what?


This is grandson Tyler showing off his diploma. He's a good kid....interested in music and drama. He will go to Northern Illinois University this summer for a drama camp. He sang in the chorus last night.We are so proud of him. Anxious to see what happens in the next years of his life. What will he become?
The principal stood before this crowd of young faces and said that they had come through middle school successfully..the next four years they would be in high school. He told the kids that their parents job was over. Now it was up to the kids to do their job... to start on the road to make something of themselves....be it military,work force, or college in their futures. I listened and had my own feelings, I'm afraid. I don't think the parents job is over by a long shot. These kids need Mom and Dad as much as ever...maybe in today's world, more. They still need their guidance in school. They need guidance when making choices in matters outside of school too. I think the parents are still a huge part of their lives at 14 yrs of age....the kids can strike out and try things, but Mom and Dad are there to watch and help if needed. I wish the best for this class of bright shiny kids. We have a hard world to live in today....I think they need all the help we can give them.
Balisha

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree Balisha, the teens years are when they need you the most. My youngest is 16 and still needs plenty of guidance right now. Congrats to your grandson on completing middle school!

coolwaterworks said...

Balisha, I think parents are always in the need... Even now that I am already a grown up and very much able to decide for myself, I still value my parent's opinions and thoughts. The voice of experience always speaks with so much wisdom, and it would be a pity not to be able to partake of it.

My congratulations to your grandson for his graduation... :D

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

I agree with you! Now is the time that parents need to be even closer to their children..or in these times they could lose them..and often do! Some children live through it..and sadly some do not. The company the children keep is so important..and the first years of high school are when they begin to find their place among their peers. A dangerous time. The wrong group, the wrong crowd and things can go horribly wrong.
The moment those children step out the door, Balisha, their world changes...and as parents..we have NO clue...so closeness is paramount. That is my thinking.
:) I just so AGREE with everything you said. The trends of dress...whoa..hard, but NOT so hard to control. You don't want you child to feel "different" but still.
John Steinbeck put it well. He wrote.."If children all wore porkchop necklaces, you would be hard put to find a child that didn't want to wear a porkchop necklace." Not sure I got the quote exact..but you get the idea! :)
And it's true!
Goodness...sorry to take up so much comment space...(cringing here!)
Hugs..and much love,
Mona

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Your grandson is going to has everything going for him...smart, nice looking...how fun to watch them grow and change and become adults...I am doing that now and it is wonderful!!

Balisha said...

Tyler has been a lot of fun to watch as he grows. We just try to keep up with his interests and encourage family things...like going to his aunt's lake house.My husband and I raised 3 kids and I'm so proud of the way they turned out. I hope the same for my grandchildren.