Yesterday we took our eldest son for a high school interview, high school! I can barely type the words without it sounding utterly ridiculous, I mean surely he can’t be in high school yet. To be fair he won’t start high school until 2026 (why we have to have a high school interview so early is beyond me but that’s a conversation for another time).
The interview was all about him, he was asked all the questions and I was super proud of how he responded; confidently, well-spoken and thoughtful. To be completely honest I thought to myself who is this kid? When I ask him a question I usually get a one word answer (if I’m lucky!), when this teacher asked him a question he answered in a complete sentence.
I must admit I’ve been really worried about even thinking about high school, I want to block it out and pretend it isn’t happening. I have thoughts like he’s still so young, how will he cope in such a big unfamiliar environment, will the homework expectations be too much for him?
He has surprised me over the years, about how resilient he can be, how he will always fiercely stand up for what he believes in and always questions the status quo. When I get worried I try and hang onto these thoughts and let them reassure me that he will be ok. I’ll definitely be using his interview as a re-assurance for the next time I start going into worst case scenarios.
As a mum I have a lot of fears about what the future will look like for both of my sons and I also love thinking about who they will become, my husband and I often talk with big smiles on our faces about all of the possibilities in their futures.
Rachel Macy Stafford says “Our child’s path to independence can be tumultuous and still end up ok”. I feel like that is just as much our path as it is theirs, we go through what our kids go through and just as they have their own experience of it, so do we. Remembering that there are going to be rough patches and they won’t last forever and neither will the good times.
I choose to believe my son will be ok as he gets older and more independent and I will be there for him and with him as he navigates this next stage.
Now excuse me while I go and look at photos from the past eleven years, memories that will bring tears to my eyes and also a smile to my face. Joy and sadness living together, it’s all a part of this parenting journey.
Natalie is a believer in the healing power of community. She is a wife and Mum to two boys and believes that parenting is an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery and that it takes a village to raise a child. For over ten years she’s been growing her village and in 2019 she created See Me Circle as a place for parents to come together, share their parenting challenges and experience the support of a like-minded parenting community.
She is a certified circle facilitator, a Mindful Parenting Teacher and Coach and a Holistic Family Consultant.
She offers both online and in-person coaching, workshops and events in Melbourne, Australia.
You can find out more about working with her here