Sweetbriar Dreams

So where shall we go on our journey today?

Friday 27 June 2014

Another Parenting Milestone

When you become a parent there are milestones to be reached and recorded, the first word, the first step, the first day at school - the list goes on.  Each one fills your heart with pride to the point of bursting.  It is as though nobody else's child has done it in the grand scheme of life.

As your child grows, the patience and understanding grows too as this little baby turns into a person with their own opinions and ideas.  You notice yourself smiling as their little traits come out, who do they take after?  and, where did they get that idea from?  Their interests begin to materialise and then the nurturing begins.  Clubs and trips along with the obvious 'Mum and Dad's Taxi Service' on constant standby.

The trials and tribulations start as they get older and their ideas start to clash with others that they have grown up with and friends change.  A parent's job now involves the empathy and guidance to see them through to keep their individuality and not do things that make them feel uncomfortable with themselves.

Then the teenage years start.  Oh yes, the hard times where everything is 'so unfair'.  Hormones kick in, spots appear, hair sprouting everywhere and mood swings - oh boy, mood swings!  To top it all, exams, exams and more exams.  The parent's job becomes the counsellor, police sergeant, public enemy number one, peacemaker and never, ever to embarrass!  Trying to keep your cool, trying to entertain, trying to support. 'Trying' being the buzz word.

And so, this week the milestone for Mr Teen was the end of his GCSE's and the final signing off on his last day at School!  Yes, my baby boy has turned into a school leaver.  I desperately wanted to be there when he walked through the school gates for the last time but due to a huge event I couldn't.  This 'difficult' teen who has spent the last few weeks thinking I am some sort of prison warden while he studied and fought through his GCSE's decided to make sure I didn't miss this milestone and called me from his mobile as he walked through the gates and walked down the road.

His voice was happy, relieved and euphoric!  Something that a parent just couldn't miss.  Another milestone achieved.

The next milestone?  College boy in September!

Being a parent feels so hard sometimes but moments such as a simple phone call made on the spur of the moment to keep their parents involved in their lives is priceless.  All the hard work has been rewarded by that brief conversation and I am so incredibly proud.

The photos this week are a continuation of last week's Heritage Weekend.  This is the Dean's garden at the Cathedral on and around Tout Hill which is within the garden.  It is on the site of a medieval Motte and Bailey Castle.  The mound was called the Motte.  On top of the motte was a wooden tower which would provide a stronghold.  There would be a large courtyard alongside the motte and this was called the bailey and would have a strong gateway often with a drawbridge.  

And now, it is time for a little bonfire with my son and a ceremonial burning of uniform!

Have a wonderful weekend and week.

Take care.


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33 comments:

  1. Hi Chel, wow congrats to your son finishing high school! I wish him a lot of luck in college! I loved your photos this week from the Heritage week. It is so pretty and green there! Enjoy your weekend and next week.
    Julie

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  2. I totally understand this milestone....for the record, my son is grown and married, and I still get phone calls like this. It can make your day !!

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  3. Hi Chel! Yay for graduations! The next stages are wonderful, too! Children are God's sweet gift to mamas and papas. They keep on giving.

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  4. Amazing. I remember those stages in our childrens lives and especially when our son graduated from college. It is good to see they do survive... and do well.

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  5. Awwww, what a sweet boy to call you for that moment. I've been the prison warden these past few weeks too as final assignments needed to be completed along with the horrible studying for exams. My son still has 2 years to finish, but I think I was just as relieved as he was that we are on a summer break now. I hate nagging ... just hate it. My daughter is home from university too, and I am so touched when she tells me where she's going when she heads out the door with friends. She doesn't need to, but she does, and that little send off gets me every time. I'll sure miss her when she leaves home for good. Wendy x

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  6. Congrats to your son friend! What an awesome moment to have him make that sweet call to you! Life can be crazy but like you said....it can be as simple as those little moments! Wishing you all a wonderful transition into the next journey! Best wishes to him in college! Nicole xo

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  7. Ah, I love that he took the time to phone you, what a sweet boy. Mine are still in primary school, we have all this to come... Lovely lush photos of your heritage weekend. x

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  8. You must be dong something right :)

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  9. Congrats to your son, I know you are a proud momma. Best wishes to him, on his college years..
    Happy weekend!

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  10. That's lovely, Chel. Savour all those wonderful moments - and have a great weekend.

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  11. Oh what a lovely post! I had the same feelings last yr when my then 16 yr old graduated from High School...unfort his freshman year in a competitive college didn't go well..so off to Junior College he will be going..anyways..so happy for you (and him). Sending prayers to you.

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  12. What a great post! Congratulations to your son, and best wishes to him. How wonderful that he called you. No matter what, they do love us.

    And I can really relate to all you've written here because I've been (and continue to be) a prison warden :)

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  13. Congratulations on the graduate. They really do appreciate us in the long run, and slowly they will realize that and tell you that.

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  14. What a sweet son to call you as he walked through those gates for the last time. You have done well, Chel. Parenting is work, but so worth it.

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  15. What a lovely, heartfelt post. Congratulations and best wishes for your son.
    Marianne x

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  16. Your photos are just lovely! Parenting is one of the most difficult and rewarding jobs...

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  17. Such a lovely post & so very well put. Congratulations to your son & to you too, you are obviously a very good parent. xx

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  18. That was such a moving post to read! Congratulations to your son and to you on raising such a thoughtful boy!

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  19. How great that he phoned you and that you got to share the moment!!! I am sure that he will look back and be glad that you raised him to be the way that you did. I hope that he enjoys his college years ahead. xx

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  20. Lovely post. Hope he enjoys going to college in September.

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  21. Congrats to you and your son on this "milestone" in his life. I think it's wonderful that he called you to share in that special moment.

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  22. I loved this post Chel and really related to it. Congratulations to your son on completing his GCSE's and good luck on his next step on his journey in life. Our daughter has just finished uni so is starting a full time job and in September our son will be off to Uni. Such big steps in life. But you are so right it seems such hard work at times but those words of appreciation they give from time to time really makes it all worthwhile. Thanks also for sharing your lovely photos.
    Ali xx

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  23. What a thoughtful young man :-) A beautiful post Chel
    Tracey xxx

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  24. A sad and happy time for you I expect. I wasn't able to have children so have never had to go through the trials and tribulations of bringing up children - it must be hard to see them turning into adults. Personally I never wanted to leave school I loved it and loved living at home too - but we all have to grow up eventually, mores the pity.

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  25. Beautiful light in the photos, especially loved that archway! Ah parenthood! Full of joys and sorrows. An unparalleled endeavor and worth it all! Congrats to your son and you on a job well done.

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  26. Well done to Mr Teen for getting through the exams, you must both be hugely relieved. The milestones are hard aren't they, but it's the way it must be. Wishing him every happiness and success for the next bit of his adventure. CJ xx

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  27. What a milestone! Congratulations to you for being the kind of parent who your son would wish to phone to share this moment! Here's to the college years! (tell me it gets easier..... pleeeeaase)

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  28. What a lovely thing for him to do, Chel. You must have done something properly, eh? :o)

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  29. It's lovely that you could still be there for this moment, even when you couldn't be in person. congratulations :). Beautiful photos!

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  30. How exciting for your son to reach this milestone and how wonderful to know that it was YOU that he wanted to share that moment with - an affirmation of all your hard work. Yes, it is hard work being a parent but the rewards are so rich. Congratulations to you both (and your hubby, as I know it is a collaborative effort) and wishing many more milestones and successes moving forward. Lovely post. xo Karen

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  31. I love that he called you as he left the gates behind...sharing such a special moment with you makes it worth the effort you have put in also.

    Congrats to him.

    Jen

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  32. Congratulations to the graduate (and you, too!). That was a sweet story, that had me all teary!

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