My daughter graduated from high school last week. Seeing her walk across the stage with her classmates was a bittersweet moment. Even though she said it wasn't a big deal since she considered her college graduation the actual ceremony, it was a milestone nevertheless. The last high school event we will attend for her still makes me weepy.
After the ceremony and photos, we went to my sister's house for the celebration. My sister and her family outdid themselves by generously hosting a party with all the decorations, my daughter's favorite foods, and desserts. It was all laughter and smiles, bringing closure to this chapter.
Well, until my youngest decided to share his graduation gift with his sister in front of all of us, he made a video slideshow. From her baby years up to photos from a couple of weeks ago, he coordinated the footage to music for all of us to enjoy. Some she wished he didn't include, but sweet and thoughtful regardless. He concluded with a heartfelt message to her that made all of us emotional. While passing the tissue box around, I noticed my daughter and son holding hands while watching the video.
It was one of the sweetest moments to catch for me as a mom. In my mind, I actually thought if there was anything my husband and I did right in raising our children, it was praying that they would have a close relationship. Nothing is better than watching your kids more than get along but love and respect one another. Of course, they have their moments, but they really do go above and beyond for each other. Frankly, because of that special bond, I am not looking forward to dropping off my two oldest at their respective colleges at the end of August. It's going to be an emotional roller coaster for all of us.
The other day we attended a graduation party, and a conversation about volleyball came up. We mentioned how my youngest started this year and is improving because he is taking copious notes from his older brother. His brother is his first resource for anything volleyball. Another parent was shocked to hear how our sons have that kind of relationship. They commented how their sons (similar ages to our boys) are like oil and water and how the younger one would never ask for his brother's help even though he teaches other players at camps and clinics. The mom quickly questioned what we did to foster that kind of relationship. I didn't want to make her feel bad, so I brushed it off, but she asked again why her sons were so different from ours. The first thought that came to mind was we prayed for our children and their relationships with one another ever since they were in my womb. Actually, we include their future spouses and our grandchildren on the prayer list, too. Obviously, we can't speak to that being an answered prayer yet, but we're confident it will be. ☺
Since my siblings and I are very close, it was a priority to have my kids have similar kinds of relationships. Cultivating that in our home was natural because it was modeled for me growing up. I remember my mom telling us that one day when she and my dad passes away, we will only have each other, so having a close bond with your family is a top priority. Yes, that's not something you want to think about, but it's true.
I'm thankful to catch that message and to pass it on to my kiddos. I will continue to pray that my children will lead by example and have their kids live the same way.
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