My sister did something I wish I’d thought of when my daughter was in high school. On the first day of Maggie’s senior year, she started a journal. The first entry began something like this, “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you’re a senior!” All year long Maggie had no idea her mom was recording memories of this momentous year in her life. Interspersed through the pages were snapshots, articles and poems Maggie wrote, speeches she gave, programs to plays in which she acted, cool quotes (“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”), and plenty of special moments the two of them shared. The finished product was a work of art, poignant and highly personalized, and something that Maggie will treasure her entire life. Not only because it records a year that has been a turning point in her life, but because every time she opens the book, she can watch that year unfold through the eyes of someone who loves her deeply, in a way no one else ever will.
As you can imagine, when Maggie opened this precious gift from her mom, neither of them could see the pages for a few moments. Nor could anyone else in the room.
Congratulations on your graduation, Maggie. Your mom is not the only one who is proud of you!