Let’s talk about raising kids…

My family is the typical Luvs commercial above. I discovered Luvs diapers when my first was about 4 months old and LOVED them, so I never used anything else. No, this isn’t an ad for Luvs and I don’t get paid for telling you that. I’m just setting up the story that follows.

High School Graduation.

High School Graduation #3!

Our youngest, Owen, graduated from High School last week… I still can’t believe we’re done. It was a wonderful celebration, and I’m pleased ‘we all’ made it to the end of his 12 years!

This graduation season was so different from the previous two. With three boys, I knew they would all be raised as different individuals with the same morals and values that our family lives by. Boy. Were they different. I changed over the years, as well. I became a little less crazy about what they needed to do and be and see and say. You know what I mean.

IAN’s 2011 Graduation
I was a nervous wreck and terrified I wouldn’t get to sit in THE perfect seat for the graduation. We got there 2 hours early to find and save seats for everyone else. We had his graduation party afterwards at our house and everyone we knew was invited. I spent weeks getting ready for his graduation. I added the details in his graduation invitation and waited for them to show up.

JACOB’s 2015 Graduation
Jacob’s was equally important. I felt I needed to be there before everyone else to find and save seats for the rest of my family and friends coming to the graduation. —We have ALWAYS lived by the ‘if you’re not there 15 minutes early then you’re late’ rule.– We, again, had his graduation party with friends and family invited afterwards. The party was a bit less stressful because raising Jacob was less stressful. He was very laid back and just wanted to eat and play corn hole and have fun. He didn’t worry about having the whole town over. Thankfully, this child is the one that taught me change.

OWEN’s 2018 Graduation (our 3rd and final)
Owen’s was just as important as the other two. But this year, when Owen graduated, I was a totally different person. Because Owen was a totally different child than the other two. To say I was calm really is an understatement. His graduation was the very last graduation in the county… 7pm on Sunday night. Because Owen didn’t want a graduation party with all of our family and friends, we invited immediate family for lunch on Sunday. Instead of a Graduation Invitation…his was an Announcement (below). No more details than that. After lunch, we all hung around the house and watched movies before the graduation. The movie ended right before we left, and only then did I figure out what I was wearing. We got there about an hour before graduation, instead of two hours like the two graduations before. Walking in and finding a seat, with everyone in tow instead of alone, I realized there really isn’t a bad seat at MTSU’s Murphy Center. So going early those other times was really a moot point.

I was so freaked out before that I stressed out the boys. This time, because Owen is so calm and laid back, I was calm and laid back. It made a world of difference in how we celebrated. We were so blessed to just be here at home with our closest family to love and remember just how quickly life will pass us by if we don’t stop and watch sometimes.

One constant for all three graduations was my friend Angel. She’s been one of my dearest friends for YEARS. You’ve read about her here, here, and here and her link is in the sidebar on the right. Best photographer ever and so easy to work with. She took all the boys senior photos that went on their graduation invitations/announcement.

I’m by no means a Carol Brady mom and I’m thankful for that. I think I’m more like Jack in Mr. Mom. When it comes to motherhood, I pretty much wing it on a day to day basis. Parenting has been a series of adventures and misadventures. I’m just me…a mom that freaks out over too much sometimes or not enough other times. Sometimes, I apologize when I shouldn’t and I’ve unintentionally done things that hurt people. But I pray like my life depends on it. That got me through raising three boys and will get me through what’s to come in the future.

Now with #3 about to start college, prayer is about to be a factor best not forgotten. Cause only Jesus will be able to get me through this NEXT adventure.