Are You Ready For The Summer?!

(L to R): Meagan McBurney (Grove City College) Nora Hogue and Maddie Black (University of Florida)

Editor’s Message – By Tricia Cable

As camp trunks get shipped and summer vacation plans are confirmed, the expected end of school year excitement abounds.  It’s so infectious at our house, that I too almost got sucked in briefly before remembering that as a working adult, I don’t benefit from a summer break.

This summer will not be unlike all the other summers that came before it for us, parents juggling work around children’s athletic competition travel schedules in two different directions.  But, this year we get to add to the list official college visits for our eldest and driving practice for our youngest.  The days of vacation bible school and art camp are gone and we are left with the final preparation for the undocking of our offspring.

Life has a funny way of preparing you to send your children out into the world on their own.  You spend their entire life teaching them the basics and ensuring that they get the education they need to take the next step.  Your organizational skills, your productivity level, you’re going above and beyond rubs off whether you have provided good examples of those or not…

Have you taught them to fish for themselves?  Or have you fished for them?  If the latter is true for you as it may be a bit for me, it is time to cut the cord.  No time better than the present for a little tough love to ensure that when the time comes they are prepared.  Whether a roadside flat or a toilet that is overflowing, they need to know what to do.

Some will leave home ready to rule the world with confidence while others will choose not to journey too far from the mothership.  Some will take flight and never look back while the late bloomers, a bit fearful of what’s next, may hover closer to home.  Either way, the days ahead promise to be a challenge as we direct each of them differently with the common goal locked in on successful adulting.

I am blessed with one of each of the personalities above.  I find myself attempting to discourage my eldest from trying to grow up too soon while pushing my youngest to step outside of her comfort zone on a daily basis.   Parenting more than one child requires you to be a bit of a chameleon, something my career in corporate American management has helped with…no two children are created the same and therefore require a very different management style.

I have so enjoyed the posting of all of the high school and college graduation pictures.  Seeing all those bright and smiling young faces heading out into the world to follow their dreams and leave their mark on the world makes me happy.  These children of yesterday and young adults of tomorrow are our future. They have more opportunities to succeed than ever before.  And with the love and support of their families, the sky is truly the limit.

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