Sunday, July 4, 2010

Post Graduation

That's Coco, one of the kittens Emma got last year. She's a lot bigger now, but I still think she is one of the world's cutest cat sleepers. Maybe her posture is a metaphor for the end of the school year. Kids seem so exhausted by the end of June.

 Christopher didn't get much of a chance to relax. He graduated and at eight o'clock the morning after his graduation, he began a college summer program. Remember I'm the mom who always told the kids they could sleep over OUR house; I never really let them sleep over or go to camp or do any of that normal stuff. So I just paid the price when I dropped him off.

He made me swear not to cry or embarrass him in any way in front of his new roommates, so I cried before and on the ride and in the parking lot. Then I was cool. Really cool. We organized his room and took a walk around campus and went to the orientation barbeque. Still cool. So what if it felt like someone was ripping my lungs out? I acted like Christopher was going for one of the sleepovers finally at someone else's house.

It was almost time to leave and the counselor suggested I show him the laundry room. I was explaining how to work the machines when he looked at me, then at his I Touch. He had been looking at that device all through the orientation and all through my advice lectures and all through the long, boring introductions to things like the bursar representative and the tutoring center hours. I finally said,  
 "Christopher, you have to pay attention. I'm not driving down here just so you can do wash."

He looked back at his I Touch and said, "I was just thinking how great it would be to have a Mom app on my phone." Okay, so corny. But it did me in. I got to that line, then I started crying. Fast forward: he's doing fine, and he brought home a huge load of dirty laundry. I have him until tomorrow, but I'll be cool when I drop him off this time, Mom apps and all.

And in other good news, one of Philip's friends is in the process of making a website for Light Beneath Ferns. I haven't seen it yet, but I will later on tonight and I'll post a link to it here. They may not want to learn how to do their own laundry, but teenagers come in handy in a lot of other ways.

It's a little harder to get to the computer with everyone home, so I'm a little more behind than usual, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Fourth!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Fourth to you, too -- I just emailed you about your novel. It rocks!

-Kelly

Jemi Fraser said...

A mom app - I love it! Got me teary eyed for you :)

It's tough letting them go - even for short stretches. Good luck with it all!

Anne Spollen said...

Thanks, Kelly! Glad you liked it; I just sent a reply.

He'll be home on July 15, Jemi. Not that I'm like counting or anything -- and if we could patent a Mom app, we would never have to work again!

Unknown said...

Love Coco!

Adrienne said...

Now I'm almost sorry I taught the kids to use the washer...I want to make sure they've got a reason to keep coming back, dirty clothes and all.

Love your new look!

Glynis Peters said...

It is hard, but be proud you can let them go. They are strong enough to cope in the world, because you taught them well.

Anne Spollen said...

Thanks, Cynthia. Coco is a really mellow kitty; everyone loves her. Her sister, Cami, is the exact opposite.

Thanks, Adrienne! Do you mean the blog or the bangs?

I'll bet they come back with dirty clothes even if they become expert at laundry.

I keep thinking it's more like he's away at camp, Glynis. I'm not brave enough to think I've let him go...but yeah, I know what you mean.

Shannon said...

I want a Mom app! Christopher's SO lucky he can drive home and drop his laundry off. But I get a good deal: I trade my Mom-does-laundry rights for things like acutal seasons, imagination inspiring weather (I.I.W.=RAIN), real trees (not supplanted Austrailian eucalyptus and shrubby fat things), and amazing views. I believe I'll get a good deal. (Except when it starts raining non-stop, and my California instincts kick in and I automatically start saying things like, "OK, it's been two days, I'm done with this weather now!") But the good thing about doing my own laundry is I have this cool pop-up laundry basket (which is much more fun to play with than it is to actually sort the laundry).

K.C. Shaw said...

Awwwwww, maybe the "mom app" thing is a little bit corny, but it's totally sweet. I hope he's having a great time.

That's an adorable kitty picture. :)

Anne Spollen said...

I sort of talked/bullied Christopher into a close-to-home college at least for the first two years, Shannon. Luckily, it had everything he needed for now and a generous financial aid package. That's great that you are going to have seasons; so many folks here out in the East talk about moving to California for the wonderful climate. No one has ever really mentioned any downside to living there aside from the cost of real estate. I never thought of it that way, so thanks for the new persepective!

Yes, K.C., normally, I wouldn't have fallen for the "mom app" but he was still flush with cash from graduation and he had just eaten, so I knew he was sincere (food and money or both are the usual teen requests) Plus, it just came ten minutes before we had to say goodbye. I think my response surprised him.

Yea, Coco is our kitty calendar girl. She gets into the cutest postures. This is one of my favorites of hers.

Mary Witzl said...

I did all of that last year and it was so AWFUL! It was bittersweet to see all the other parents looking anxious, shuffling around red-eyed and snuffly with their kids' belongings.

We've got our Eldest with us now, traveling around in Turkey. We'd almost forgotten what it was like doing job lots of laundry and having to wait 30 minutes for the bathroom.

Anne Spollen said...

Ha, red eyes - I wore big sunglasses.
It really is awful, especially when there's never really been a separation before.

Boys don't take that long in the bathroom, Mary - you sort of wish they would; )

Anonymous said...

How sweet. I'm a teacher and I cried at graduation. I couldn't help it thinking how grown up my students were.

I can't wait to see the new website.