Eva is a high school freshman this year, and Brady is a senior. Eva will experience a series of firsts and Brady will have several lasts. That’s how growing up works. Both are bittersweet.
Having a family and raising children is not for the faint of heart. It takes patience and dedication. You raise them to become independent, and when they are, it’s not always easy to handle.
The day David started college was a tough one. Ruth, Elizabeth, Michael and I took him to Western Michigan to begin his college career. Ruth spent most of the day crying. While she was happy for David, she knew our family would never be the same. When Elizabeth and Michael left home too, life kept changing. We welcomed some but struggled with many.
When we were with Brady a couple of weeks ago, he admitted he had experienced his first last and it made him sad. There will be many more.
He’ll work on finishing strong academically and strive to help his teams athletically during this final year of high school. I’ll be watching for top ten moments in football, basketball, and golf.
While kicking off her high school career, Eva has joined the work world. She’s working part time, and after just a few weeks, she became the director of training as the cafe’s most senior associate. She’s recruited new employees as well, so director of personnel may be on the horizon. Not bad for an about to be fifteen-year-old.
My wish for each of them is that this year is memorable. I hope it’s filled with new experiences and happy times. Change is full of obstacles. Some may seem monumental, however, I’m confident they can handle the challenges coming their way.
