The Days are Long, The Years are Short

This week, my first born was accepted to college. In Minnesota, juniors and seniors in high school have the opportunity to take college classes and receive credit on their high school transcript, while reducing college expense. We have a wonderful set up through YEAH Academy. The college professors and adjunct professors teach at the Academy. While the content is college level, the high school participants are not distracted by the world of older students.
And so, spring semester, my son will carry eight college credits in addition to high school math, chemistry, literature, and geography. His friends have started and he is a semester behind them. Quite and acheivement for a kid who hasn't 80% of his hearing. He has not completed his drivers' permit test and I can feel he is chomping at the bit to "get caught up." I have tried to help him to move forward at his pace, not the standard the world sets, yet I remember how significant it is to be on track with friends. I don't yet feel the pull to keep him close- as some parents. This young man is high needs and I feel like the sooner he is more independant the betteer it will be for all of us. Yet, it is hard to picture the day when I move him to some new address.
My husband asked what kind of vehicle I would like to drive when we next purchase one. It would have to be big enough to carry people and cargo, as we'll be moving kids to and from college I said. Not something small? he asked. No we still need to make decisions based on the needs of the kids. It will all come to an end soon enough. Our kids will be gone, and with boys, we'll be lucky to hear from them once a week. But for right now, we're busy, not with diapers, but with college choices, learning to drive, constant reminders about homework and trying not to push them out the door despite cantankeroous behavior on both the parents' and teen's part.

When I had the priviledge of caring for my Grandma while she was dying, I asked her, "Grandma, you had eleven kids, 68 grandchildren and twenty-five great grand children. Did you ever think so many people would come from you?"

Her replay, "I never though about it. I just did it."

I never considered that we would actually make it this far. My husband and I celebrate eighteen years of marriage tomorrow. My oldest son will be a junior in high school. We have homeschooled for twelve years. ( I know, if oldest is junior, how does that add up to twelve years? It is for another story.) My husband has been unemployed for over two years and yet we miraculously pay the mortgage every month. I gave up a rewarding career. I guess I am like my grandma.