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