Emotional mom of a high school senior

Any emotional parents out there as they turn a page in the book of parenthood? Raising my hand! I have purposely tried to document our son’s senior year on my blog and in social media more than in past high school years. My Facebook, Instagram checking and blog reading grandparents are my main audience along with other family members not able to attend most of Hunter’s activities and events. But I know many have enjoyed following along to the highlight reel. 

It is a highlight reel. I am thrilled there were not blogs when I was in high school and that my mom wasn’t blogging my life. I keep most of high school and our son’s life off of the blog for that reason. High school is difficult. It’s a challenge. It starts molding and shaping your child and you have less influence as a parent than you did a decade earlier I think. 

As a parent you watch your child step out, sometimes to fail and other times to succeed. There is a lot of ugly in high school, from kids and adults. I don’t talk about the ugly at this stage of life but it has taught me life lessons. I may share about them in the future. 

For now, we are celebrating the last month of high school for Hunter. It’s a circus of a schedule. From track meets to State Speech to State National Honor Society to Know Your State contest to the Wishek FFA banquet to his FFA Star Ag Placement Finalist interview and that is all within this week. 

I forgot two or three of my own commitments last week. I don’t know even know for sure! This is NOT like me. If it is not written on my calendar, I will forget I learned Just managing the schedule has me spinning silly much less thinking of graduation in a month. 

My husband said, “You eat an elephant one bite at a time.” Point taken. So I am working daily to do something towards graduation. 

Then I get distracted. In in my distraction, I looked through the below pictures my sister took last August of Hunter in and around our favorite family farm, GriggsDakota (where my mom hasn’t blogged since last May after a much-needed break but she may start again this spring. Share an encouraging word with her in a comment on her blog pretty please with sugar on top.)

At this time during my senior year of high school, I was five months pregnant with Hunter. Thank you for not blogging about that, Mom! Not exactly what we had planned. My family, and our entire town, was evacuated from the devastating Flood of 1997 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. My senior season of track had abruptly ended. My school, my parent’s downtown business and home life I had known washed down the river. 

I felt lost and without direction when I was Hunter’s age during my senior year. When I look through these pictures of him today, I see a faithful journey. It was not an easy journey.

If you’re a parent at any age, at any stage, you haven’t had an easy journey. But raising Hunter and watching him grow into the boy…almost man I suppose he is today, taught me to have a bold and strong faith in a greater Godly plan. 

We are proud of the journey and excited for the next steps Hunter is taking. But I am an emotional wreck some days. Hunter has defined my adulthood. He is what I have done. Yes I have a career, a marriage and two beautiful daughters which bless my life immeasurably also. But since age 18, Hunter became a focus and drove me to give my best for others and to trust in God’s plan. 

I am a proud mom and as my husband says, “At some point you’re going to stop crying.” Indeed I will. I am not crying sad tears. We are ready for Hunter to launch. He is ready. 

They are joyful tears. Here’s a look at 16 pictures that bring me to those joyful tears and then his goofy faces and poses bring me laughter. Thank you to my sister, Kirsti, for capturing them. Hang with me as we celebrate each day of the next month. I refuse to be in survival mode but instead in celebration mode!