Making a Difference ... Making Memories

In two months, My Youngest child will graduate from elementary school. The fall will bring a brand new set of challenges in a brand new world.

He has quietly made a difference this past year ...

His goal was to have perfect attendance for his 8th year of school. One of his classmates has had perfect attendance since Grade 4. My Youngest decided to make this year his year of perfect attendance. And (to date) he has.

In December, he wanted to buy a 'Candygram' (a fundraiser for his school) for everyone in his class. It was simply something he wanted to do because this would be his last opportunity to do so. He paid for the gift out of his own money. Acknowledgement and attention weren't the motivating factors. He simply wanted to surprise his class. And he did.

Last term, he brought home a report card that was hard to beat. I complimented him on his accomplishments, improvements and the comments his teacher made. Our 3-Way conference with the teacher was an easy conversation. He couldn't be heading into high school on a better note.

He has simply been a 'good citizen' throughout his elementary years. We chatted about some of the ways he has been a positive influence for those in his school world. He told me that he tried to be a good role model for our daycare family throughout the years that I babysat. And after that time, it just kind of 'stuck'. It has become second nature to him to treat others with kindness and to be the best he can be.

Today, I am have made arrangements at work so that I can attend his last performance in an elementary school play (a musical "The Jungle Book"). He knew from the onset, that he did not want a singing part. But he wanted to participate and has a speaking role ("Tabaqui" - the jackal). He thoroughly enjoyed acting in the play last year (he was "Prince Charming") and wanted to include this final performance in his list of accomplishments for his graduating year.

He is one person. He has made his way quietly through his years at school. He makes a small difference to a a great number of people. He realizes that this year is one that he won't get back and he is living it in the way that he has set out to do. He is making memories that he will carry with him into the years ahead.

When kids go off to live their life at school, they become unique and separate entities from their family. They make their own way and create their own memories.

My Youngest is wise enough to realize that he is the one who can make this year count. I am fortunate that he shares these little thoughts with me and he has quietly made me realize how important that it is that I am witness to some of the memories that he is making.