Elise graduated from elementary school and Kyle graduated from high school on the same day. Somehow, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," rings true. The day itself, May 30, was fantastic, but the weeks leading up to it were fraught with emotion and stress to force one graduation to happen, and this turmoil, to some extent, overshadowed the surety of the other.
I never thought I would wonder if one of my children would graduate from high school. It's a given, right? Not necessarily. Kyle wrote a nail-biter ending that resolved only in the very last sentence. Two weeks before end of term Kyle had eight citizenship grades to make up. He had an F in one class days before graduation. But he did it! (Maybe summer will be enough time to dim the counselor's recognition of my voice over the phone. I called her daily that last week!)
Kyle's senior year was marked by indifference, attitude (good, bad, ugly -- take your pick), liberties, charm, responsibility, bursts of raw talent, struggles and triumph. Midyear, just when he had committed to do better in school, he got shingles and could not even attend. The nerve pain lasted for weeks. He turned 18 and played the "I'm old enough to do whatever I want" and "Can I have some money for ...?" tracks in a twisted tango. It has been a learning year for all of us. Mostly, I've learned I need to love this boy unconditionally. I'm proud of him.
Meanwhile, Elise's self-motivation helped make her sixth grade year one of her favorites. She won prizes in two essay contests, helped her class conquer space camp, and genuinely enjoyed school. She earned the president's academic award and deserved to be feted on her special day.
For all this, I am most proud of how magnanimously she shared the day with Kyle. Her graduation ceremony (or promotion, as they call it) was first, at 9 in the morning. Kyle and Emma were still asleep, Jeff was working from home, so only I attended. (James and Samuel were in class.) Other family came for Kyle's graduation, showering him with cards and gifts, yet Elise never drew comparisons. In fact, when we came home from Kyle's ceremony she had created a celebratory banner.
Kyle's graduation was during the day at a college basketball arena. Since that interfered with class for Samuel and James (Elise was dismissed after her ceremony), I gave the boys a choice whether to attend Kyle's graduation. They both wanted to be part of their last day of school, which meant that Elise needed to be the babysitter to greet them at home after school got out. I recognized many elementary students in the high school graduation audience, and wished I'd made a better effort to have Kyle's siblings support him -- even if that meant not giving them a choice. (Wish Kyle had gone to Elise's event, too, but whatever. Can't win them all.)
• The Jumbotron!
• A district administrator told the graduates they spent more time contriving how to ask/answer someone to a high school dance than they will spend choosing their future mate.
• Spotting Kyle, Where's Waldo-style, among the nearly 800 graduates. We sat toward the top of the arena so a family member didn't have to descend as many stairs following recent foot surgery. I don't have the best eyesight. I took lots of pictures of what I thought were Kyle only to realize later that it was someone else!
• When the entire class applauded for a disabled student. Despite administration's pleadings that people reserve applause until the end, there were many disruptions as people in the audience blew air horns or rang cow bells when their student's name was called. It was obnoxious. Yet it was appropriately touching when the graduating seniors themselves clapped for a young man. I ran into a lady in my ward at the grocery store the next day and, when she asked about Kyle's graduation, I told her how touched I was by this sweet gesture. Turns out the disabled young man is her grandson. He attended a different program, but has been a fixture at the high school the last seven years. He walked with his younger brother. I love my community!
Aunt Katie made a fun candy lei for Kyle. The candy bar wrappers were mostly brown and gold. She told us that first she bought the candy, then wondered what the school colors were. Perfect!
Last photo: Yummy cake from my parents, who wished the timing of their long-scheduled Europe trip could have been budged every so slightly. ;)
Congratulations, Elise and Kyle! We love you.
