JSngry Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Suddenly I feel very old... My baby girl graduated high school last night. She's one of the most naturally smart people I've ever met, and also one of the most stubbornly idiosyncratic as well (a trait she no doubt got exclusively from Brenda... ) For the last 17.75 years, life with her has been a battle - usually "normal" but occasionally not - to get her potential to meet her ability and to pay no - or at least less - attention to that voice in her head that says, "Never mind, I'll do it when I want, how I want. If I even want to do it at all." Graduation on schedule was in no way "guaranteed", and yet the one person who remained annoyingly calm, about it all was the one it affected the most - her. We went down literally to the last week of school in suspense. Well, Brenda & I did anyway. Kristina knew that she would pull it off, never even entered her mind that something might go wrong and mess up her pre-envisioned inevitability. And, as last night proved, she was right about that. Again. Just like she was about "career choice". Senior year? College? Plans? Future? Don't bother me, Dad, I'll make up my mind when I'm ready. Sure enough, December comes, she discovers tech theater class , starts designing costumes, and becomes a state finalist in same. Ita ll happened in, like 15 seconds, or so it seemed. Now all of a sudden, she knows exactly what she wants to do, what she's going to do, and that's that. An amazing young woman, my daughter is. She hasn't killed me, and yeah, she's made me stronger (although in ways I never dreamed I would need to be). Four years ago, when Charlie graduated, it was a wistful moment in a lot of ways for LTB & I, but we both looked at Kristina and said, "Hey, we're gonna have a full-time kid on our hands right up until the very end with this one". It was a statement of equal parts comfort and dread, and yeah, we pretty much called it right. But Lord have mercy, did she step up at the last minute. Up, and all the way out. Oh sure, she'll be living at home for a while longer while she gets her academic credentials in line to better reflect her true intelligence. And yeah, she'll still be calling "DAD" every 10 seconds when she needs something. But make no mistake - she'll not be doing these things all that much longer, and she'll not be doing them as a "child" ever again. Seeing her walk across that stage last night, tall, proud, confident, and READY to get going with her life erased any illusions that anybody might have had about that. And now, it seems, I have no more "children". Just like that. Overnight, almost literally in the blink of an eye, Suddenly I feel very old. Perhaps older than I've ever felt. But never have I felt prouder. World, look out - Kristina Rae Sangrey has made up her mind. Resistance is futile! Consider yourselves warned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Congratulations! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Congrats to KRS and all concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connoisseur series500 Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Congratulations also. Nice story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Moments Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 congrats jim!!! can i have her room? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewHill Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Thanks for sharing! Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 All the best. Speaking from experience, the journey will continue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rostasi Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 A grand moment indeed!! It's nice to be able to exhale. It seems just like yesterday she was kicking around beach balls amongst 6 foot inflatable dinosaurs! I guess the inflatable dancing banana has become a memory as well? - Hey! and just before yer 25th too! I'll wish you two congrats now 'cause I'll be out of town on the 3rd. Reminiscence is good (and so is breathing). best to all of you!, R~~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 That's great Jim! Pass on my congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Congratualtions to all! My girlfriend's daughter barely made it, so I've seen how stressful that can be on a parent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 That's something I'll never experience. The closest I've come was when there was some doubt about Gracie getting through obedience school, but her older brother helped her through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcy62 Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Fathers.... Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold_Z Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Congratulations ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 I suppose I grew up with some of the same characteristics your daughter exhibits. I benefitted from having parents like you (plural). So I'll congratulate you on recognizing the need to be the sort of flexible and understanding parent(s) that I had; her upbringing will serve your daughter well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Lovely, wise account. Best of luck to you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Congratulations! Just ten more years, and I'll be right there with you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe G Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Is Toot Toot, Pritty Kritty, TOOT TOOT! something she said as a kid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Congratulations to all of you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzypaul Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Congrats! I've got 17 1/2 years till that moment comes, so if you have any advice between now and then, I'm all ears... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 (edited) I've got a 14 year old - still making payments on her chastity belt - Edited June 11, 2008 by AllenLowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Congratulations Kristina! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Ptah Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 I love her middle name. Rae Sangrey--it sounds so musical, like a lilting Brazilian tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeCity Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Good Work! Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Jim, do me a favor and pass on a message to Kristina for me: Kristina, you've probably heard people tell you that high school is the best time of your life. Don't believe it! Those people were losers; now is when life gets interesting! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Then again, maybe passing on messages to your daughter from fifty year old men isn't the best course of action... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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