I’ve changed up several of my Blog Posts because during these uncertain times, I feel we are all searching for more meaning and need to read some powerful encouragement. Today, I was going to share a Birthday Wish List, and I was so excited about it, but I’ve come to realize that my birthday next week is pretty much canceled, and I will pull up my big girl panties and just deal with it. By the way, I absolutely hate that saying, “big girl panties!” LOL.
While I can deal with not really having a birthday celebration, something that is really hurting my heart is that two of our sons would’ve been graduating this May, one respectively from IU and the other from Purdue and now we’ll never see them walk across the stage, we may not get pictures in their caps and gowns by the respected University monuments and my heart is breaking. I think the kid’s hearts are breaking even more to have their school career come to abrupt end! So....
Dear Class of 2020,
College and High School Seniors, I see you and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. 2 of the millions of you are my family, my boys; I long to see you walk across the stage and get that coveted diploma after four years of very very hard work! Just like many college and High school seniors across the country, you will not be returning to campus after spring break, or ever. Many of you left for the weekend or spring break not realizing that it would be your last day in class as a student at your respective university or high school.
I know it feels like you’ve lost so much so quickly, it does for us parents as well. It’s going to take time and painful pondering to assess the situation and what it means for you. First of all, I want to tell you it’s OK to mourn this loss! I vividly remember the last weeks of my senior years and they were some of the best of my life! You’ve lost that and I’m so sorry! For you college kids and especially mine, I taught you to be huggers, I saw the tears in your eyes when you said you wouldn’t get to hug your friends goodbye. You’ve lost late nights at college bars, just chilling with your closest friends, and senior events that were meant to celebrate each other and your college careers.
To the high school seniors like our nephew, if you don’t get to go back at all, I’m sorry! You may miss Senior Spring Break, or you won’t put on that beautiful gown or tuxedo and be proud and look sharp dressed to the nines! I’m sorry you won’t get to attend the awards banquet or superlative ceremony and laugh and clap. I’m sorry if your athletic season was cut short. And most of all, I’m sorry you might not get to walk across the stage. In a way, high school graduation is even more important than college and I know that, and I know you might not get to have graduation open house parties or celebrate with your friends.
To all you college seniors who are not going on to grad school, this abrupt end is bitter and cold and hard! To have to move everything out of your apartments or dorms so quickly adds to the pain! To not be able to sit in lecture halls or work in the department labs makes learning so much more difficult! Many college resources are no longer available, there’s no going to library or studying in the quad. You are pretty much on your own with your laptop for the next 7 weeks and praying that the professors give some leniency because let’s face it, online classes can be tough when you are a hands-on learner! All you do know is that you have degrees to complete, but you worry, will they be completed on time? Will they mail me that diploma?
I remember senioritis and I bet you all were really starting to come down with it. You probably swore you were ready to graduate and start your lives. But now, you realize that you may not be ready. In a way, it feels like the rest of your adolescence was stolen from you two months too soon.
Above all, what we all really lost, including parents, was closure. You kids lost that feeling of closing this chapter in your lives in a way that feels meaningful, surrounded by your friends. You lost that feeling of walking out of your last final and feeling such a sense of completion and pride. You lost so much to a situation that is completely out of your hands.
This situation is truly surreal. For many of you, it is the first major world event in your lives. You will talk about Covid-19 for years; a story that you will tell your children and grandchildren. And still, none of us have any idea when this will end. People are crazy, they are scared, everyone is in a panic. Some of your peers are not taking this seriously. My generation and the generation of your grandparents did what we were told. Please don’t be one of the entitled kids, please don’t think you are invincible and please don’t be selfish! Remember what we, as parents, have taught you and do the right thing!
We can’t do anything about the decisions to best serve our country. We just have to figure out how to move on from here. The unknown is scary and hard, but I think we can all take comfort in knowing that we are all in this together. Don’t let this dull your spark and your light. Your future is still bright, and you will do great things in this world, it’s just going to take a little longer until we can forge forward! But just like I always, always tell my son‘s, it WILL all work out!! And if you don’t hear it; CONGRATULATIONS on Graduating! I’m so Proud of You!
This photo is cute yet OH SO SAD!!
xoxo
