Tearing up as much as my medication would allow was no surprise to me. Because any group of kids singing, especially when they are singing to celebrate a rite of passage, is something that makes my heart swell.
Even though my five-year-old refused to sing and spent much of his preschool graduation ceremony with his hands down his pants despite my silently mouthed commands to remove them, I was still proud and mightily impressed that we have kept this tiny human alive for over five years and helped give him the confidence to be who he is.
Frat Boy The Elder, graduating from preschool his way.
He’s our boy, and he’s always himself. There are no pretenses with him yet. If he doesn’t want to groove to praise music, he won’t. If he would prefer not to speak with someone right then, he won’t . If he needs to pee while he is enjoying time with friends in the hot tub, he goes, and feels comfortable enough with himself to announce it.
OK, so maybe we are still working the social graces aspect of being him.
But I love that he is independent, and that he is unfettered so far by peer pressure and conformity. That he wants to please his parents and teachers, but is still true to being him. My hope for him is that he will be able to maintain that until his high school graduation and beyond, while still holding on to his innate kindness and sense of humor.
Big high fives and hugs to all of the grads and their families this season. May being yourself be easy, and may you easily find those who love you for it.
This piece was originally published in June 6, 2012 edition of The Fort Mill Times
9 Comments on "Yo’ Mama: Free to be you and me"
You are certainly yourself and I love you for it!!
I can only be me. And right back at ya, pal. xoxo
Love that -”may being yourself be easy, and may you easily find those who love you for it.”
Perfectly said.
And hooray for all the independent-minded kids out there and the moms who let them be (even though it isn’t always easy!)
Thanks, Christin!
I love it! We definitely march to our own drummer, too, and I think that’s awesome. It will serve them so well in their lives as adults. And of course, congrats on the graduation! :)
Thanks, Michelle! Looking so forward to meeting you this weekend!
LOVE this! My own WFB graduated from preschool a few weeks ago too. Peep my Facebook page for photos. My son is the one who refused to participate in the singing and sat down on the altar. At one point he actually LAY down. There’s also a picture of him turned around backwards with his butt in the air. He is another one that marches to his own beat. (I was pretty unamused by these events at the time, but a month later I guess it’s sort of funny.) I might have to bite that quote “May being yourself be easy, and may you easily find those who love you for it.” and cross stitch it onto something.
Thank you, Jenn! I’m not going to say it doesn’t bother me at all, because a part of me would like for him to be more interested. But the bigger part of me knows that letting him be himself is the best thing I can do for him. Even if he has his hands down his pants.
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