• Blog
  • Contact
  • Work with Me
    • Work with Me
  • Books

The Sports Parenting Podcast | JBM Thinks

Kids in Sports | Character Building

JBM Coaching
JBM Parenting Coach
You are here: Home / family / Graduation: the double edged sword

The 5 Biggest Mistakes I Made as a Sports Parent and How You Can Avoid Them!

Graduation: the double edged sword

June 2, 2009 by Janis


June 6,2009

It was a night of soggy red gowns and deflated ‘doos, but even the rain that fell through much of the 1 hour and six minute graduation ceremony could not dampen the spirits of the 323 students that received their diplomas Friday night at Foothill High School.

It was my second high school graduation as a parent, but no matter, one never grows immune to the feelings of sadness that come as we watch our children grow up. I teared up silently, glad for the big umbrella that I could hide beneath. But the tears are not all for sorrow, for yesterdays gone; they are also for the pride and joy at the young adult that my son has become. He has fought battles and emerged a stronger man for them. He is ready to fly.

Graduation is a double-edged sword, I think. Our high school senior was so excited about it, looked forward to it all year. We planned a celebration, bought gifts and cards, took pics to remember every moment, and hugged and laughed with our graduate and his friends after the ceremony. It seemed to be all about excitement and joy and new things to come. And it was. But there is another side that only parents feel. Those moments of emotion that came as I ironed his gown yesterday, cleaned up the kitchen after his pre-graduation dinner, and watched him march into the stadium with his classmates. Those tears that fall down my face even now as I write. The little boy that came into our lives 18 year ago is all grown up. And even as we celebrate his growing up, we mourn it as well. We want it–we don’t.

I know what to do with the happy edge of the sword. I continue to cherish the growth and challenge and keep cheering my son on as he goes to college to play football and discover his independence. But the sad edge leaves me feeling helpless, unable to stop the swiftly passing years–not that I really want to–and sometimes wishing that for just one minute I could hold that chubby little towhead in my arms again.

Filed Under: family Tagged With: family

Email Janis using the Provided Contact Form

Follow JBMThinks on Facebook or Twitter

Comments

  1. Cristi says

    June 6, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    Mom..
    Made me cry!!
    And to think.. there's still one more grad to come!

  2. TJ says

    June 7, 2009 at 4:50 am

    That was heartfelt, almost brought tears

  3. Ann Vallotton says

    June 9, 2009 at 6:32 pm

    Very touching!! Tears. You must be so proud of your amazing boy!

U of Miami

UHealth is a partner and resource to the JBM Coaching community’s sports medicine and overall health care needs.

Do you want your child to have a great season?

It starts with YOUR good habits!

GET MY BOOK

Do you want your child to have a positive youth sports experience?

Get weekly tips & my free book TEAM PARENT SURVIVAL GUIDE. Let's do this!

We respect your email privacy

Powered by AWeber Email Marketing

 

Meet Janis B. Meredith

I am a youth sportsparenting blogger, podcaster, and parent coach. I help busy and often overwhelmed sports parents by providing resources to guide them as they strive to give their children a positive and growing youth sports experience.

Read More About Janis

Goods for cycling sports on DHgate

SPONSORS: friends of JBM Thinks

Wholesale Jerseys

BabiesBase

Soccer Uniforms

The Bench Coach Dugout Organizer

Florida Moving Company

Kid Sports Memories

freeUniformQuotes.com

© 2009 - 2014 Kids in Sports | Character Building | JBM Thinks ~ All Rights Reserved

Disclosure Policy | Terms & Conditions