Leaving the nest...

Our oldest son is moving out...on his own...in an apartment...on his own.

Gulp.

So excited for this boy, but moving out is...so grown up.  I find myself telling him things like, "Always look through the peep hole before you open your front door" or "You don't want candles in your apartment, what if you leave and forget to blow it out?!"

Then I have to remind myself that legally he is an adult.  To me, he is still a kid.

It's times like this that the Jewish mother in me comes out.  I actually said to him at lunch, "Are you eating?  You look so thin."

Oy.

He sent me a text the other day "I don't know if you remember, but one time when I was really young I told you that when I get my own house I am going to ask you to decorate it."

Yeah, I remember when you were little- like it really was yesterday.

So here's the plan...

The apartment is 845 square feet.  Oddly enough, they are the same apartments that Travis and I lived in after we were married. It's a lovely older complex in one of the original neighborhoods in our area.  Quiet, on the water, and close to his work.  Perfect.

He likes modern....so this is what I came up with for the living room/kitchen:

I am so excited to be helping him out in this adventure.  His own place.  All grown up...

But I'm hoping he'll still call his mother ;)

18...

Our oldest son, David, turns 18 today.  I now have two children that are legally considered "adults".  How can that be when I still feel like a little kid?  Phone calls to my mom happen multiple times a day, because, you know, she's the adult!

David has not chosen a traditional path.  He has a way above average IQ, and this has led to issues with depression and grades.  This past semester he opted to withdraw from school and get his GED.  It really was the best choice for him at the time, but he knew it would limit his other choices down the road.  He thought about joining the Navy, but his heart is not really in it and he disagrees with so much when it comes to politics, military and war.  The Peace Corps is looking promising, but tough to get into.

We told him that he can take a year to think about what he really wants to do, but who really knows what they want to do?  I'm 44 and just found what I really want to do!  I went through three career changes to find it.  He is working and has shown himself to be a great employee.  He has also agreed to pay rent during this year of figuring things out.

Am I disappointed he dropped out of school?  Well of course I am, but not because I am disappointed in him, just that he has limited opportunities now.  David is considered GT, or "gifted and talented" by academic description.  His IQ is very high, as is his EQ- but he just couldn't see the point of being able to do the work and having to go home and do 30 more problems to show that he can STILL do the work.  He loves to learn new things and is constantly reading science news or some other academic information.  Depression, higher rates of suicide, dropping out of school- these are all risks for "GT" kids.  As a teacher I used to cringe when parents would approach me with "I think my child is GT!  I'd like them tested : o )"  As if it were a really good thing!  It's a disability in it's own right.  There is a reason GT falls under Special Education.  There are issues with our kids that our current school system is not able to address.  Their needs are specific, and I can say first hand that our son was at risk from the  get-go of starting public school.

I am proud of David.  Has he chosen the easy path?  Well, no, but he's chosen the one that is right for him right now.  I am confident that he will find his niche and once he does he will run with it. Success comes in many different forms.  Sometimes we have to be open to seeing it in a different way.

Happy Birthday David.  We love you and we are here for you- always.

Love,

Mom

Sweet 16...

Oh, and also this boy turned 16 this month. Happy Birthday David!

Our son Samson...

Our oldest son David has chosen to wear his hair long for several years now. It has always been a bone of contention for my dad, which usually results in him asking me why I "don't take that kid to get a damn haircut?" Truth is, I really don't care how long his hair is as long as he is washing and brushing it on a daily basis, so I never pressed the issue. I figured there would be other bigger and more significant battles to fight in the coming years, and hair length would be the least of my worries.

David came home a few nights ago with short hair. I literally did a double take. He doesn't even look like the same kid. He looks older, taller, and more mature. Who knew he had eyebrows?? I didn't.

So here he is- the new and improved 15 year old boy/man in our house. It's going to take some getting used to.

Heavy Metal...

David got braces today.

At least the heavy metal t-shirts he insists on wearing make more sense now.