Wednesday, January 11, 2012

What Do You MEAN High School?

Does he look ready for high school to you?
Last night we went to the first of what will be three high school visits to choose where my BABY—My Youngest Child... the LITTLE ONE, will go to high school. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

And whose idea was it to give thirteen year-olds CHOICES that will impact their lives for YEARS?

And how did I get so OLD?


OK, so mine weren't this cool...
Okay, that last may be the crux of the matter. And it shouldn't. Among my high school class I know GRANDPARENTS for Pete's sake. But somehow these milestones of the younger close a chapter that was my last grasp at young hipness... erm... never mind that I've never given a fig about being hip. (except maybe that badass Doc Marten phase in my late 20s)


The school we went to is the one my daughter attends. It is one of the original magnet high schools in the US, nearly 40 years old, but housed in a hundred year old stone building that was once an elementary school. It has been a great fit for my daughter, but I think it is flexible enough to also be a great fit for my very DIFFERENT son.


OK, no pom pon, either...
Speaking of which... how is it children from the same two parents can be so completely opposite? I've got my affectionate, artistic, passionate (possibly dramatic) daughter who likes hippie beads and incense (though country music, among other things) and my sarcastic, smartass, booksmart skater child [not that he has any sarcastic, smartass parents *shifty*]. (who is looking an awful lot like Where's Waldo these days—it is the combo of the new glasses and the striped hat—and yes, the swirly hair... Though Waldo wears his pants too high (gotta make sure the girls know you are a boxers guy, after all. Briefs are lame. And binding.) Son ALSO has four fingers on each hand, not three. Um... and blond hair. And prefers hoodies.

But I digress... [and there was much rejoicing].

So that isn't much of a blog. But YOU try to think straight when you get hit with your baby going to high school! Can't be done!

19 comments:

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

A hard moment indeed. I found i as hard to cope with as watching her wait for the bus the first day of kindergarten. Feel for you, kiddo.

And then there's college ...

LynnRush said...

Oh goodness. Now, I don't have kids, so I don't personally know how this feels, but most of my friends all have children, so I live vicariously through them. I hear it's tough.

Hang in there. :)

Jan Morrison said...

As you know, I am on my second set of kids who have left or are soon to leave high school. And they are twenty-four years apart. And guess what - happens all over with grandkids. Hopefully I'll be dead by the time the great-grandkids are going to high school. really.

Tonja said...

We're doing college road trips with my oldest, and my little one is only three. You're right, they all have different personalities.

Old Kitty said...

Awww big NAKED hugs to you lovely Tart!!

Take care
x

Anonymous said...

The Girl starts Kindergarten in August. I'm already freaking out.

Johanna Garth said...

*HUGS* You're not old, you're just uber-cool experienced!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I'm glad that personality is not determined by genetics. I do not want to be the same man as my father or as my brother. As for lamenting at the passage of time and growing older (which is what you're really lamenting about by choosing high schools right?)...that is what life is about. It's way better than the alternative...being dead. To quote the Shawshank Redemption, "Get busy living, or get busy dyin'." There is truth in those words.

Alison DeLuca said...

How can my precious little infant suddenly want pierced ears and an iPod? And how does she know more cool bands than me? I'm the music lady, after all! The Ramones are still cool, right?!

So, fistbump. Thanks so much for the lovely post.

On the other hand, my fashionable, shoe-loving persona wants to add:

LOVE those boots!

Sarah Ahiers said...

awww! He's growing up!

Southpaw said...

Age is an interesting thing. I haven't decided if it is good or bad. LOL

I moved my blog, but there is a feed problem with my old blog and the posts aren’t showing up. You can visit my new blog here.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Sounds like 2 awesome, different kids! Tough to have them grow up, though! My son started high school this fall and I've been in shock ever since...

CA Heaven said...

Sam with mine, two very different boys (made by the same parents). Older boy is the very social extreme-sport type. Little boy is the kind of shy and introvert math type (more like me). Interesting differences. Fortunately they both like skiing >:)

Cold As Heaven

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm just glad I'll never know that moment. I feel old enough already.

Amber T. Smith said...

Yup, I feel your pain, and understand the two completely different kids thing too. Dale could technically leave school in five months!!! What the heck THAT all about? He's my baby! My firstborn! Nope, they must have it wrong...

Trisha said...

Hey, my Doc Marten phase is still going - and it will never stop!! haha

kjmckendry said...

My first is picking out colleges to apply to and learning to drive this year! I don't know how it happened so fast! Hang in there.

vic caswell said...

oh!!!
ooooohhhhh!!!!
i'm terrified of the day my babies become teenagers! eeks!
also,
how lucky are your kids that they get a pick of a high school? that's really nifty! plus they sound like stylin' kiddos! :)

pineconegirl said...

Right there with you! Feeling your pain;so maybe we aren't OLD, but it sure feels like it.