Congrats! Congrats! Those are fantastic photos and you have a great looking family Sue! You know I've read that say some of the most difficult kids are the most creative. I hope he finds great success with this new chapter in his life. It's so cool when our kids get to an age where you can actually see that all the hard work really does pay off.

Beautiful family and that last shot is so memorable! I know somewhat what it is like to have bumps in the road with kids. It is so trite but so true- what doesnt kill us makes us stronger. Much is learned and maturity gained from bumps in the road.
Congrats!

Congratulations! You've all reached a great milestone, here's to best wishes for the coming milestones in life.

What a nice looking young man! Congrats to you all. Great pics - thanks for sharing them. Best wishes for the graduate!

tina

Congrats from me too! Just about all my girlfriends from highschool (there are 5 of us that are still very close) have children that have graduated recently, EXCEPT ME, who just got one (my one and only) out of Kindergarten-HA!!

I think it is so good that you DS knows what he is interested in and also good that you support him in that.

olliesmom, that just reminded me that during parent conferences in the fall of his junior year, his film teacher -- who had only been teaching him for a couple of months at that point -- told us he knew DS had a real passion for film, and that he hoped we would support him in pursuing it. It had never occurred to us NOT to support it, but I guess a lot of parents would try to encourage their kids to pursue something more "practical." We knew better than to try to push him in any other direction!

And let me just say one more thing about my remarkable son. He just asked me out to lunch! His treat! That has NEVER happened. Now that he's 18 and graduated, maybe he finally appreciates his mom!?

Congratulations! I can tell that your heart is bursting w/ pride as well as it should be! What a handsome young man too!

Wonderful! My very best wishes to your handsome son. May you all have many more years of success and happiness.

I teared up at the last pic, congrats to your son.

Tomorrows leaders and creative minds are never easy to raise. Congratulations!
That is one beautiful young man.

Kicked out of kindergarten? LOLOL! It says more to me about the school than your son. Sorry.

Congratulations to son-of-sueb! It sure sounds like the high school was a good fit if a teacher cared enough to talk to you on his behalf about supporting what he already knew was one of your son's passions (not that they needed to). People are so lucky to find something they love, even if later on it morphs into something else related or something else entirely. Even if your son eventually finds another path, he'll remember your support, and that's what matters most. Good onya for your wonderful parenting!

(btw, that last pic was so intimate it shocked me a little -- not in a negative way, but just that I thought what a brilliant picture to take--wonder why more pics of such an intense occasion aren't as intense as that. hmmm...wonder where he got his talent for capturing things on film...)

What lovely photos! Can I say "He's hot!" -- or is that creepy? ;-)

So is he going to 'E' or 'H'? Or none of the above?

BTW, Sue, I love that dress you are wearing in the photo! Such a beautiful family!!!

Congratulations to both your DS and to you!! It is a real milestone to be proud of.

I know a little bit about being the mother of a child who does not fit the mold. From being a 31 week premie, to a student who tests very low in math and very high in reading, writing, vocab (and who started writing his first novel in the 9th grade), public school was never an option. He wouldn't have been able to pass the math testing requirements.

But we too were able to find a private HS that played to his strengths, without letting his weaknesses define him. I will always be profoundly grateful to the faculty there.

Having a child like my son was an incredible learning experience for me. I just don't look at people the same way as I did before. Finding and developing passions and aptitudes is key.

I have found myself wondering what happens to the "smart kids with a glitch," a phrase one of my son's tutors used, who don't have committed parents with resources to help them. Sueb, you done good, girl!

What a joyful day! Thank you for sharing it. The last picture is so beautiful. Got me goose bumped and teary eyed.

Sweeby, LOL. My two teenage sons do not seem to get any attention from girls their age, but the moms always think they're hot!

He is going to Hampshire College. Where I suspect he may meet some others who were kicked out of kindergarten, LOL!

gold, you're right. He had the misfortune of being in a school with a principal who was very rigid and just wanted him out of her school so she wouldn't have to deal with him. In the end, though we fought it at first, being at that therapeutic school was probably the best thing that ever happened to him. And our town had to pay for it since it was their choice to send him there.

fly, DH took that pic and it's his favorite from the whole day.

Have to share this, too. We just went out for lunch and as we were leaving I gave him a hug and said, "Thanks, that was very sweet of you." And he said, "Well, I put you through 18 years of he11. I think this is the least I could do."

Oh, and here are all 3 of my goofy kids.

Just stop it -- that pic gives me shivers too!...what a wonderful family you all have.

Hampshire sounds *perfect* for him. Your all's story makes my day. Thank you so much for sharing, sue. Hope you'll post his progress, maybe share a film or two up on youtube? You never know who'll see it :)

Congratulations! You should be proud. Your family is adorable.

My oldest graduates from high school next year. Will you promise to do some virtual hand holding with me next spring?

BIG, BIG congrats to both you and your son!!! What a great outcome to a bad start at school (what a creep that principal was!). It's wonderful that he found his passion early. I've know so many kids that had to go a fifth or even sixth year to college because they didn't figure out what they wanted to do until their junior and senior year. I wish him the best of luck following his passion for film making. BTW, too bad you all weren't living in Albuquerque area; my bestfriend is on the board of directors for a fantastic media arts charter school. And, being a charter school, it's free to attend. You know, they probably were do-my-own-thing kids at their grade schools too!
Lynn

Congrats to your Son! You have a nice looking family Sueb!

golddust, that dress is from Lands End and is on sale now for $41.50! I think it's called a cotton flare dress or something similar, and comes in a few colors. I may just order the black one too!

deee, of course I'll hold your virtual hand! The college application process for us was so stressful (more for me than for DS, who seemed to have all the confidence that he'd get in... well, he didn't get into his first choice, but I think his 2nd choice -- where he is going -- should have been his 1st choice anyway!). I think I have a couple of friends who don't even want to talk to me any more because I was such a PITA for all those months.

Thanks everyone for the kind words!

You have such a lovely family. Congrats to your son!

Sue--Congratulations to your son, and your entire lovely family. What a wonderful milestone. I hope we get to meet up at Hampshire this fall! My daughter is starting her junior year there, and my son (junior in high school) has expressed an interest in apply to Amherst, so we might be going up there for a few more years! All my best--Karen

Karen, will you be there on Sept 2-3? If so, look for us -- you know what we look like now! ;) DH will just be there for the day, but I'm staying through Friday for the parent orientation stuff (we can't both stay because our other two kids start school here on Sept. 1). Maybe upperclassmen start at a different time, though? If we don't see you in Sept. -- then maybe at parents' weekend! Of course you may not recognize me because I plan to have lost 10 lbs. and gotten a better haircut by then (ha... I've been saying this for at least a year, though...).

Congratulations to your new graduate, and to his parents - you have walked the walk with him, and cleared the path. It sounds like he has truly found his passion, which will both ground him, and also teach him to soar.

Congrats and best wishes to your son. He is so handsome, and that pic of him hugging his sister is priceless. You can see the love on his face. I would sure frame that one!

Congratulations, you have every reason to be proud!

That last picture speaks volumes about what a great young man he obviously is, and what love he must have had in his life to be able to show the same towards his little sister.

Congratulations to all of you and the best of luck to your son in his college years. How exciting!

Sue--Our daughter is moving into a house (adjacent to the campus) so I'm guessing we'll be up there in September, hauling stuff to her. It would be lovely to meet you! We spend a lot of time at the farm--our daughter is in the pre-vet mode--and I think I know a lot of the chickens by name. The homeliest ones (turkens) she named after me and my husband! Karen

Congrats to your son and to your lovely family. Great photos. Enjoy this time as the summer before college really flies and it is then time to take your graduate to start college. So much to look forward to!

Sue,

Sorry I am late to this celebration but I happened on this thread as I was searching for an update on your dining room to library transformation.

I was so thrilled to hear that your son graduated, got such high praise for his film shorts and is heading off to Hampshire in the fall. I have followed your posts over the years and I was really hoping Hampshire would be a good fit for him. From the start, I had a strong gut feeling about your son and I think he's on a path to an exciting future.

Your family is beautiful-- and I can't believe the girls aren't noticing your sons! All I can say is that I sure didnt know what I was looking for when I was in my teens. Those girls will wake up one day! A son who wants to take his mother out to lunch is going to be a great mate!

Congratulations!

Oh funky, thank you so much!