About my grandaughter's graduation today....

16 years ago

She was speaking at graduation today so when the seniors marched in she was first in line.

I didn't expect to feel this way but I just started crying. The tears were falling before I knew it.

She is a young adult now...ready to go out into the world on her own.

Where did all that time go that I should have spent with her.

I feel like I failed as a grandmother. They only lived 15 minutes away in another town. But we didn't see that much of them it seems. They have always been a very busy family with the kids involved in school functions.

But I just had the feeling that I wished I could start over.

Geeze...it didn't upset me this much when my kids graduated. Am I nuts....?

I was so proud of her up there. With her National Honor Society collar or banner whatever they are called over her robe.

They have a brand spanking new high school, just open for this school year.

She was the first student to graduate...at the head of the line. So she will be written down as the first student to graduate from the new school. We all thought that was kind of neat. Denny said in 15-20 years it'll be a trivia question...LOL

Anyhow....I hope to spend some time with her this summer...and I plan to keep in touch with her via email when she leaves for college.

patti

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Comments (8)

lilliepad
16 years ago
Patti-I know how you are feeling.My grandaughter turned 18 yesterday.She was a good student,liked school,was a good basketball player and loved playing and was in the band.Then out of the blue last winter she quit school.Her mom and dad(my son)are divorced and mom,her older brother and DGD had been living with us.Dad was married again to a woman who has a DD a couple of years younger than DGD and had made it clear from the beginning that her DD was the queen of the house and DGD was just the peon so DGD wasn't living there.When we came up here to help youngest DS with the babies,Mom was in a relationship and they all moved out.That is when she decided she didn't want to go to school.She didn't like the guy mom was with either(he WAS a jerk)so that made it harder for her.Anyway,I feel like I let her down by not being there for her.If she had been able to come back and live with us I think we could have kept her in school and things would be different.But,the situation here can't be changed either so I am torn between the little babies that need us here and and the BIG ones at home.LOL
Just be in your DG's life as much as possible and do the best you can.That's all anyone can do.
Congratulations to your DGD.She will have a lot of wonderful memories from her Graduation Day!
Lindsey_CA
16 years ago
"I plan to keep in touch with her via email when she leaves for college."

The only time we ever lived close to grandparents was a two-year period when we lived about 30 miles from my maternal grandparents. It was when I was in 6th and 7th grades...

Patti, in addition to keeping in touch by e-mail, please strongly consider also keeping in touch by handwritten letters. They don't have to be long -- just something she can hold in her hands and take with her to read when she's not near her computer. Something that will last forever and will always bring good memories when she sees the envelopes... Write down family history information; family stories and anecdotes, etc. I cherish the letters from both sets of my grandparents and my aunts & uncles; and I'm nearly 61 years old.
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linda_in_iowa
16 years ago
Patti you must be so proud of her. How nice that she was the first to graduate. My high school was new and we were the upperclassmen for 3 years. After 50 years we still think we are special! Our reunion is in October and we are getting a tour of the school on a Saturday. It is all fenced in now and the neighborhood is bad. It is in Bakersfield, CA.
pattico_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for your input...

My eyes still water thinking about it...but I know we've made some memories in the past...It's just that I don't remember them.

I decided tonight that for Christmas next year I'm going to ask the grandchildren to make me booklets of their memories with Granpa and me.

That ought to really bring on some tears.....LOL

patti
juellie1962
16 years ago
I cannot imagine how bittersweet you are feeling!! My granddaughter is turning a month old this week and I'm already wondering why time is flying so fast!!! Sounds like you have a really great young woman for a granddaughter though!
patti43
16 years ago
Oh, just let me hear "Pomp and Circumstances" and watch me bawl like a baby. Just those fresh, young faces that hold so much hope for the future will melt me faster than that water did the witch in the Wizard of Oz.

Another thought for when she's off at school is to send her goodie boxes. We used to do that for the grandkids after they moved to PA from FL. I did different themes like "Pizza and a movie night" and would send a parent approved VCR tape to watch, cookies, a bag of M&M's, a Pizza Hut coupon with $20 attached. The kids always got excited when they got a box from Mi-Mi. I missed them so much, but at least I could be there in spirit. In return, we got pictures or videos of them enjoying their "party". Another thought is stuff like personal items so she doesn't have to buy them. Things like moisturizer, Kleenex, Tide, nail polish and remover--things like that so she doesn't have to buy them.

Your GD is truly a beautiful girl and has so much going for her. It's nice to give them a boost every once in a while. Phone calls (especially when they first go away from home) are also very welcome.
sleeperblues
16 years ago
Patti, my daughter graduated in 06 and had a casual relationship with her grandparents. Then she went to school in Madison, and my mom lives around Chicago, so they are two hours apart instead of 5 hours. For some reason she would go to Gramma's when she needed a break. Now they are best buds. In fact Gramma is taking her on a river cruise to the Ukraine on June 1 (DD speaks fluent Russian and is Russian studies major). So keep in touch with her, there's hope for a closer relationship. I am just tickled pink Alex is so close to my mom.
hayjud_mn
16 years ago
Patti,
It always baffles me at how long it took for our kids to grow up, and then the garand kids grow up so fast! We have our oldest grand graduating next year. It just doesn't seem possible.

Your DGD is a beautiful young lady. You cried that much just for graduation, just wait till she gets married! Your better find some waterproof makeup!

About my grandaughter's graduation today....

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About my grandaughter's graduation today....

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