So it's been an insane week of events as my Son said farewell to High School. While most would be happy to gloat on the ridiculous number of awards and accolades that he received, I couldn't help but notice something a little more intangible. It all started with his final Band Banquet. You must understand, my Son has given his all for his High School Band for the last five years. There is no question of his love for his band or it's members or it's success. In the midst of receiving awards for his leadership role of being Captain and other prestigious awards, his Band Director broke down while telling him farewell. This is were I noticed the role reversal of who loves who more.
Again, I would repeat that no one would ever question my Son's love for his band. As the banquet progressed, it became obvious that every person in that room was endeared to my Son. Whether it was a student, faculty member, or parent, they all wanted a picture with him, or to hug him. The night ended in a tearful mess, but one thing one very clear. All of my Son's years of hard work had bought him the unconditional love of every person in that room. That was something much more powerful that a stack of plaques. Albeit, an intangible, hard to wrap your arms around type thing, it was still a very impressive sight to behold. While every parent says they want their child to hold a trophy, what they really want is for their child to hold a special place in someone's heart. To see him hold so many hearts in his hand was a scene that was surreal.
Then it didn't stop there. We progressed on to graduation. Teachers with decades of experience with tears in their eyes trying to blubber out that they will miss your Son. I asked one teacher for a picture with my boy and she mumbled something about he can never be replaced and ran off before she started crying without taking the picture. The ManChild, (as I call him) has taught me a lot about life over the last seventeen years and ten months. I knew this week would be emotional, but never thought it would teach me where the true power of love lays. My boys pour everything they have into whatever they do, they know no other way. It showed up loud and clear this week. I hope you get to experience the feeling of others loving your child unconditionally.
