Project 18 to 18: Day 7

School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days ...

Once again, as the sands in the hour glass race toward the bottom of the Boy's time in high school, I find myself looking back to those early days of elementary school.

Only for one little minute on the morning of his very first day of school, did the Boy show any trepidation at being at school. Since then, he's claimed his spot on campus and made his way through the halls of four different campuses around town for elementary school, intermediate school, middle school, and now high school.


In each case, he's waded his way through the murky waters until he was the big fish in the pond. But now, he's headed for an ocean disguised as a college campus! And he is comping at the bit to get his chance to leap off the diving board right into the deep end!

I, on the other hand, am shaking in my shoes a lot more than the Boy did on that first day of Kindergarten. I ask myself if we've taught him what he needs to know. I wonder if he will choose some place far from home. I wonder how empty the house will feel once he no longer lives there full time.

But none of my concerns truly matter. And honestly, I know that he's been preparing for that day for some time. And regardless of which campus he will call home, I know he will make his mark and find his path, just like he has in every other school he's experienced thus far.

Project 18 to 18: Day 6

Curiosity is the engine of achievement. ~Ken Robinson

Wonder Boy has a mind that is only very rarely quiet, which may account for why he often holds his tongue.

An ever inquisitive mind has always been a hallmark of the Boy's character. When he was young, like in the flashback photo for today, he had to be almost physically restrained to keep from exploring. He wanted to know everything about everything. And he seemed to just soak it up like a sponge! I enjoyed our days of science experiments and grand adventures to see what the world held in store for us!


These days, the Boy has discovered that there is a world beyond the physical to explore and conquer! I sit in awe as he explains the math proofs on his whiteboards to me. I so admire that he doesn't just want to know how to DO math, but instead strives to fully understand and grasp the concepts behind the mechanics of solving a problem. And the best part is, that he doesn't take a single thing for granted, nothing at face value. He has to prove to himself that something is the way some textbook might claim it to be. THIS is how discoveries are made!

I suspect this is a skill that will serve him well in the years to come as he heads off to college and beyond. I know, in the depths of my being, that this guy is meant for great things!

Project 18 to 18: Day 5

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens - Ecclesiastes 3

Verse one of chapter 3 of the book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a "season for every activity under the heavens" including, in verse 7 a time to tear and a time to mend.

This verse strongly reminds me of these first few weeks of school for Wonder Boy. The first month of school, at least since he started high school, has always been this way, but as it has done every year, the workload has yet again increased. And as such, the Boy has found himself with hours of homework every night of the week.

Unexpectedly, this weekend marks a start departure from that pattern! He has a few small assignments, but nothing taxing and so today is a day of rest and renewal - in other words, a time to mend.

For the Boy, that means some alone time surrounded by a few of his favorite things: his guitar, his phone, his PlayStation, and his laptop along with some snacks and a Gatorade for refreshment.


Back in 2005 he was ALL ABOUT play time! In fact, most of his day was play time. Of course, in 2005, play time was also his time to learn and discover. Wonder Boy always gravitated to building toys most often. He liked to create, to tear things down and figure out how best to put them back together and then how to make something entirely new by combining old ideas and materials.

Today is a day of rest. A time to turn off his brain or at the very least to engage it in a completely different manner than what happens with the demands of academic life. And that is A-OK with us! We know that this time of rest is what prepares him for the next onslaught of assignments!

Project 18 to 18: Day 4

The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature. ~Antoine-François, Abbé Prévost d’Exiles


I think perhaps the toughest job on the planet is that of a father. Wonder Boy is so blessed to have had this guy to provide safe haven for him for the last almost 18 years. Wonder Dad jumped into the father job with gusto from day one! In fact, while I was out of it in the hours after delivery, he took charge of the first diaper and never looked back.

One day it may change, but parenthood hasn't gotten any easier from those early days filled with diapers. These days the duties involve fewer objectionable odors, but it is no less exhausting. Since home is our safe space, we get to see the Boy at his absolutely finest, but also at his lowest.

Since school started about a month ago, the Boy's stress level is at an all time high. And I'm afraid Wonder Dad often has to bear the brunt of the Boy's frustrations. But as you can see, the Boy still knows where to find his biggest supporter (one of them anyway) once all is said and done.

Project 18 to 18: Day 3

La Bendición

I like to say that I've always been a "hands on" mom, but it's probably more accurate to call me a Helicopter. And while I may hover about more than he would like, I hope that I've done so with enough space for Wonder Boy to grow and flourish.

Seeing him behind the wheel of a car is one of those moments where, even if I wanted to embrace my Helicopter title, there is little that can be done, but let go and let God, as they say.

So, every day when the Boy pulls out of the driveway without me, I say some variation of the following prayer:

May God bless and keep you.
May He guide your steps and guard your heart.
May He deliver you to school and return you home again safely at the end of the day.
May He open your mind to help you take advantages of the learning opportunities of the day and to perform to your fullest potential in every situation.
May He shroud you in His peace, love, and understanding in order to make you a good friend, a good classmate, and a good student.
May He help you to make good decisions and to show respect for those that are there to teach and support you.
May He reassure you that you are loved beyond measure.
In Christ's name,
Amen.

Looking back to 2003 and the Boy's first set of wheels, I'll admit that I felt obligated to hover near by to handle any technical difficulties he might encounter. Like today, he didn't really want me to hang around so much, but at that age he had little to no say in the matter.

Wonder Boy, then and now, is confident behind the wheel but not terribly adventurous. And I'm OK with that. He can get where he needs to go and when called for, he is more than capable of traveling outside of his comfort zone.

Back then, like today, whenever he ventured beyond my sphere of immediate influence, all I could do was say a prayer and hope for the best. His track record so far is pretty good. And I'll just keep praying that it stays that way!

Project 18 to 18: Day 2

The More Things Change ...

The more they stay the same!

This old adage is certainly true of our dear Wonder Boy! From DAY ONE he has NOT been a fan of mornings (regardless of the day of the week)!

In our look back to 2002, we see our little man crashed out while I was attempting to get ready for work and pack his bag for day care. There were many mornings when I wanted to just let him sleep it out since he so rarely slept in the first place, but one can only ignore work for so long.


These days, we have a pretty good routine worked out. You might think that since he is the farthest thing in the world from a so-called "Morning Person" that we might have to physically drag him out of bed, but that has thankfully never been the case. He sets the alarm on his watch, pulls himself out of bed and stumbles into the living room to snooze until time for breakfast. We have an unspoken agreement that conversation before calories will be kept to a bare minimum. Now, that is not to say that we have to be quiet and tip toe around the house. No, it just means that quite frankly, he may not remember anything discussed before he's had a bit to eat. After breakfast though, things kick into high gear while he gets dressed and ready for school. There's always a flurry of school supplies, lunch bags, a reminder of after school commitments, and a pat-down of all pockets to make sure he has his wallet, keys, school ID, and garage door clicker. Then he packs it all in his car and heads out to start another action-packed day at school!

I have gotten accustomed to the little bit of quiet time after he leaves the house to take care of a few around-the-house tasks before I have to face the fact that, just like when he was small, I can only ignore work for so long and must pack up myself and kick-start my day.

Project 18 to 18: Day 1

Firsts and Lasts

Hip, Hip, Hooray! Today marks the start of my all-time favorite annual photo project - the countdown to Wonder Boy's birthday!

This year, more than any other, I often find myself lost in nostalgia, remembering so many firsts. In contrast, Wonder Boy is focused much more on all of the lasts that are looming on the calendar. He recently had his last-first-day of high school, for example! He's counting down the days until he can cross off his last orchestra concert, his last fight out of the school parking lot, his last summer at home.

Personally, as we wind down the last days of him being a minor, I am in total denial to all of these lasts that he so gleefully crosses off the calendar. And while I enjoy looking back over all of the firsts, I'm shaking in my shoes about a new set of unknowable firsts to come - the first day at college, the first serious relationship, the first taste of adulthood and freedom.


Today, however, I'm thinking about our first first - our first day together! The photo on the left was taken just a few hours after Wonder Boy made way his into this world. It has at once been SO LONG since he fit in my arms like that and yet if I close my eyes, I can still feel the gentle weight of his head on the crook of my arm like it was yesterday.

The picture on the right may well turn out to be a last - the last start to my favorite photo project of the year - since I am unsure if I will be able to continue this tradition once the Boy is out of the house. And you will note that these days I fit better on his arm than he on mine.

I know I'm starting off the project this year looking back, but while I might miss those early days on some level, I have no desire to return to that time. The young man so willing to give me a place to rest my head is an amazing guy and I honestly DO look forward to seeing just what paths he might take over the next few months and years!

And on THAT note, I will offer my last thought for this day: Let's roll!