Well, what an incredible day it has been. My baby is officially graduated for the University of Massachusetts!
We had a beautiful, sunny day. I was a little bit on the warm side, the temperature was around 90, which made it hot sitting in the football stadium, but it was GREAT! Sunday night is the dinner.
Oh WOW! I completely agree with Tina and with Shelly -- you two look like sisters, and you're both absolutely gorgeous.
Your father's adorable too, by the way...
What a proud day for all of you. Congratulations to everyone. (I know the feeling of pride, having had my two older ones (daughter and son) graduate from college last May. I now have one last daughter to get through her college in Arizona.)
You did a great job, Tess. Now, you can enjoy whatever the future holds for your beautiful daughter.
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
You guys are very sweet! We do get odd looks occasionally when we say that we are mother and daughter. I had Sabrina when I was 19, just ten days before my twentieth birthday.
It was truly a magical experience, like Moore indicated, watching you child graduate from college. It is hard to explain the sensation. I'll go with an incredible amount of pride and love. After the dean said that he confered the degrees upon them, I was standing up in the crowd clapping. As I watched her move her tassle from one side to the other, indicating graduate, it was humbling as a parent.
I was so very glad that I was able to share it with my father. He is truly one of the nicest people that I know, and I consider myself blessed to call him my parent, and one of my best friends. My dad had two massive strokes at the age of 46, each on a different side of his brain, so he was evenly disabled on both sides of his body. He was lucky to survive, and had to learn how to walk, talk and eat all over again. He is truly a role model in perseverance. My father lives in Ireland most of the year, these days.
When we were driving out to the school, I took the back roads, which brought I by Quabbin Reservoir. Quabbin is an incredible spot here in Massachusetts. There were four towns which were moved to make the reservoir in the 1930's. It is one of the largest man made public water supplies in the United States. It is truly an incredible place to visit. It is truly majestic. Quabbin actually supplies Boston, and 40 surrounding towns with water, which is amazing, because Quabbin is in the western part of Massachusetts. I was able to share Quabbin with my father, prior to the graduation. He was in awe of Quabbin.
Here's a link to Quabbin Reservoir history site (I find this stuff amazing!):
She starts a full-time job in Boston on June 4. She will be working for a large financial services firm. Her degree is in economics, so the job lines up with getting her foot into the industry that she is very passionate about.
I'm thrilled for her about the job. The firm is very established, and a big player in the world financial market. It's actually one of the largest. I am also thrilled for her that she will be working in downtown Boston. It's a very dynamic city for young, and older adults. Funny enough, she will be working next door to the building that I worked in for 1.5 years, which I left one year ago. It would have been cool to be able to do lunch. I'm only working about five miles from her now, right outside of the city, so I'm sure that we will be able to pull off some after work get togethers. She moved to New Hampshire last week. She's shacking up with her boyfriend (who I adore!). She's about a two hour drive from me now, so the central location in Boston will be great.
Aw, the milestones in life! One era closes and another begins. Good luck to you and your daughter, Sophia, in this new phase of your lives. Great pictures, and thanks so much for sharing them with us here.
Well last night was the dinner at the restaurant. It was truly incredible, much better than I could have ever imagined. The service was outstanding, and everyone's meals were delicious. It was a wonderful mixture of the adults and children in the family. The kids were so cute, ordering off of their menus. Many of them said that it was the best steak they ever had. They actually had petite fillet mignons. They felt so important ordering their steaks, and then picking their sides and salad types. The waitresses were so wonderful with the kids. A big hit for the kids was the choice of strawberry slushes or kids coladas.
I invited one of my daughter's best friends, and he is a true character, so having my dinner at the table with my daughter, her boyfriend, and her friend was a laugh fest. The function room was georgous, and the women in the family loved their flirtini drinks, a specialty at the restaurant. My grandmanier/gold margaritas were yummy, and the wines that I preselected were a big hit.
It was truly a magical night! I stood up and spoke to everyone, thanking them for joining us, and telling them what truly magical experiences they all have in front of them, with their children. I also added a Sophiaism... I told them that after having gone through 22 years of parenthood, that I want to tell them that I have discovered that I discovered that biting your tongue truly does not cause it to fall off! That received a few chuckles and smiles.
Thanks for everyones well wishes and thoughts. My daughters college graduation truly was more than I could ever have anticipated, and it is a truly humbling experience.
I'll also add that the thought of never having to pay tuition is not half bad either..... Who knows there may be a new convertible in my driveway in the next month.....
LOL, biting one's tongue is the secret to having a lasting and peaceful relationship with grown-up children, that's for sure! Right now, I feel as if I need a bit and bridle in my mouth some days when I see what's going on. I've got rolling my eyes down to a science. But eventually it pays off when they come to realise that your silence actually did them an enormous favour. Then again, some things deserve a remark or two...;)
LOL, biting one's tongue is the secret to having a lasting and peaceful relationship with grown-up children, that's for sure! Right now, I feel as if I need a bit and bridle in my mouth some days when I see what's going on. I've got rolling my eyes down to a science. But eventually it pays off when they come to realise that your silence actually did them an enormous favour. Then again, some things deserve a remark or two...;)
I will take all the advice I can!
As to the rolling eyes, she has that down to a science! On Friday she proceeded to roll her eyes at me within 15 minutes of our leaving Ann Taylor, and my having purchased her two outfits for work along with a dress for yesterday. That only cost me in excess of $400.00, Ann Taylor is one of my favorite stores, and silly me, I wanted her to have some good clothes to start work out with.
Let's just say that rolling eyes do not go over well with me, I will be returning my Ann Taylor purchases, she received a VERY frosty lecture about respect which resulted in us not even speaking on Saturday morning as I drove to the graduation. We made up, and salvaged the weekend, but her demanding an apology from me did not go over well. My father suggested that I throw in the word IF, and apologize to keep the peace. Let's just say that if is now my favorite word. I sucked it up, and apologized, with if at the start. She received what she wanted, and did not even catch the if, which to me made my apology empty.
Oh boy, do I ever know what you mean, Sophia! I won't bore you with my examples, but as parents, we're bound to have to take the high road more often than not.
Sophia, you had to apologize to her for what? I wouldn't have apologized for anything, you have supported her for all these years, sent her to school, bought her clothes, and threw a huge expensive party. Don't let her walk all over you! She needs to learn to be grateful to you and hopefully she has Thanked you for Everything!!
Sophia, you had to apologize to her for what? I wouldn't have apologized for anything, you have supported her for all these years, sent her to school, bought her clothes, and threw a huge expensive party. Don't let her walk all over you! She needs to learn to be grateful to you and hopefully she has Thanked you for Everything!!
I was pretty much floored when she demanded an apology, because all I did was tell her that rolling her eyes at me was unacceptable. I had no intention of apologizing, but I needed to make sure that the weekend would not be ruined, especially the dinner, so I swallowed what I really wanted to say, and threw if the big if word. I saved the peace.
If nothing else, she's now an adult and will need to go out and find her way. I have supported her, both financially and emotionally for all of the years, and will continue to be there for her if she needs advice, or to have adult moments, but I am truly relieved that she is now graduated, and we can both proceed on to the next phases of our lives. The bank of mom, has closed the doors!!!!!
Kids are funny creatures.... Unfortunately I have spoiled mine, and I have not necessarily done her the biggest favors by doing that, but I just wanted to try to make life easier for her. At least she is ultimately a good person, with a strong work ethic, so she will be fine. It is all up to her from this point on, and she has a good education behind her, so she should thrive, and hopefully not get lost.
You guys are the best, thanks for all your great input!
Oh, she somehow forgot to thank me, but at the end of the day, I know that I did the best that I could for her, and that's what really matters. Although, thank you would have been very nice to hear. My boyfriend was over today, and his daughter, who is very much like mine, graduated a week earlier. We both commented on how neither of our daughters thanked us, but that we ultimately had no control over it.
Tess it sounds like you had a great weekend...and with the amount of money, plus the number of guests that you had attending this thing I do say you did good with apologizing and the IF thing is hilarious. When your dad said that to you did you have to stop and wonder what apologies he gave you with that if word in it.
And there is nothing wrong with spoiling your kids...I actually have a license frame that says not spoiled...well loved. There is a difference. And as long as you instill values along with the spoiling things are all well. And she must not be too spoiled or she wouldn't be taking a job where you wont be close by.
Shelly, you are right on the money, with wondering if, IF was ever in conversations in the past. Believe it or not, I am pretty much a peace keeper, but even peace keepers have limits!
Besides the stupid apology thing it was a truly magical weekend, and that is what I will take with me, in my book of parental memories, and go forward to form new positive ones.
It's funny, in the back of my mind I always have a goal I am working towards. I have to figure out a whole new goal now, because dang, raising and educating a child is one huge one to have accomplished. I did smile to myself at the graduation when that thought passed through my mind.
Have a great week everyone! I'm back to normality, and the rat race of work. This week we find out what our raises are. We had our annual reviews last week, and I had a great one, so hopefully it will be enough to cover the increased cost of gas to just get there four days a week!
Tess, your goals won't ever go away where your daughter is concerned. They just shift! There will be career paths she takes, her first home, her marriage, her first child, etc., etc.
It's very rewarding to see one's child get that degree, and those tears can just spring up in a parent's eyes without warning. But you're not through yet, and the journey just keeps on getting better as you begin to know your child as an independent adult, and as a friend... While she will always be your child (she'll be forty, and you'll still have vivid memories of her as a toddler), you'll also be two adult women, sharing in life's challenges.
So, enjoy this lovely time -- well earned -- and then get ready to discover what those new goals are going to be!
You've been a great mom, and I'll bet that's part of your own parents' legacy to you.
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
thanks moore, Im not sure what I said but its cool...and your right, there are still plenty of goals in mind for your child..she is still young and has a lot of years a head of her where she will need your advice. As a mom of a young one I can tell you that I call my mom 2-3 times a week to ask questions and advice. I guess the need a child has for her mom never does go away