Back to School 2022

The new school year was stepped into this year with some reluctance, excitement, and hope, plus a fair helping of anxiety. I have learned to try to get things sorted prior to the start of the year, but also to entrust it all to God's care.

Johanna and I bought her school supplies the first week of August and they were all piled ready to go, with the reusable items from years past. The smell of crayons filtered into the scent of lead shavings as I pre-sharpened her pencils and despite having the supplies all together I know it wouldn't be enough to gently transition Johanna into 4th grade. Johanna does not transition gently. So I braced myself for the intensity. Johanna has had a good but intense first week. She is in the 4th grade at St. Mark, and she got the teacher she had been hoping for: Ms. Middleton. Johanna reread the note Ms. Middleton sent out over and over again, and Johanna was full throttle as we did the "Classroom Visit" day. Johanna sought out familiar faces and greeted all of her classmates by name. 

Monday morning came early and it was still dark out when I first said "Good Morning". We are getting back into the swing of the routine, with a few bumps, a few tears, more hugs and erratic appetites. But we are looking forward to the new year and all of the opportunities to learn and grow.

Bridget is at Catonsville High School in the 10th grade. She is looking forward to a stable, more predictable year, and more art classes. I took her shopping for clothes a few weeks ahead of time and we picked up a curling iron. We also scheduled a haircut, which turned out fantastic and Bridget says it feels great too. She was asked to manage the JV volleyball team, which started up before school. She has a few friends on the team, and when the coach found out she was Megan's sister, they were excited to have Bridget. Bridget laughed and said isn't nepotism great. The team provided a good transition to schedules and interacting with friends. I still have to contact all of her teachers to make sure they have her IEP info, and hopefully start on a good foot. Jim drops her off in the mornings and she rides the school bus home in the afternoons.

Megan and I sat down in July and went through all of the college to-dos. She scheduled her advising meeting and we were not at all impressed with the process. Finally she got one scheduled (virtual), but the advisor didn't show. It was stressful.  I sat down with her and we went through Nursing program pre-requisites. We weren't very adept at the system but we nailed down a solid schedule that included condensed versions of the two of the nursing program pre-reqs. That schedule would allow her to apply to the nursing program in Jan and complete the nursing program in 2 years. She and I discussed it and because she took most of these classes during senior year she felt like she was ready and could handle it. the schedule also gave her off on Friday. She was asked by her high school AP Bio teacher to nanny for her 6 month old, Hazel. The schedule would mean that she could nanny on Fridays.

Then 6 days before the semester started she got a call and an email saying that the condensed classes were canceled due to low enrollment. The well-made plans were junked and she was stressed and demoralized after some discouraging email back and forths with CCBC. She and I sat down and reworked her schedule getting into the few classes that were still open. When it all settled the schedule turned out doable and opened up her Mondays. She is now nannying for Hazel on Mondays and Fridays. The new schedule does mean that the ambitious 2 year RN goal is probably not possible anymore, but we put it in God's hands.

Megan Graduates from High School

 Class of 2022!

Graduation was scheduled for 7:00 PM on Saturday, June 11, both late in the day and late in the year. After much discussion we decided to throw Megan's graduation party the same day at noon. I pulled out the planning info and pictures from her sisters parties and got planning going. We would be doing the taco bar like we had done for her sisters so I pulled out the recipes and made the cooking schedule. I cook the food myself and it's a good bit of work. Rain was forecasted so we had to be flexible. In the end we decided to have food inside and put tables outside under our tent and a sail cloth I bought for the party.

The family all pitched in to get things decorated, food prepped and heated up. Rachael came over early to help and was a great addition. She was going to have to leave early from the party for work. Emma on the other hand wouldn't arrive until after the party; she would join us for the ceremony that night.

I prepared a picture slide show that ran in the living room. I also made a music play list but I couldn't find my phone to get it to play. Throughout the party I borrowed Megan or Jim's phone to take pictures. Megan had bought a new white dress for graduation but it got snagged and holes in it by a cat right before the party. Bridget stepped in to help and offered her Easter dress, which turned out great. Everything went great, people came and went, ate and visited. Megan had some of her babysitting families visit, she played cards with friends, and greeted and grinned at family and friends all day.

We got a little bit of down time before the ceremony, where we did some clean up, eat and relax. I got a few pictures of her in her cap and gown before we had to leave for the ceremony at Towson's SECU arena. Megan got a ride with Savannah since they had to show up a little early and then Jim, Bridget, Johanna and I went up  later. Emma joined us there.

The graduation ceremony moved fast, the student speakers were solid and then all of a sudden it was done. She was done. She was finished with the required schooling. 

Graduates, family and friends surged outside and the pull to reconnect began. We caught sight of her amid the thousands of people, way across the courtyard, perched on a wall. She looked so solitary and closed off. I sensed that it was all a bit overwhelming. I couldn't get to her fast enough. We took just a few pictures as families moved around us, but there was an unknown feeling lingering. It was already getting dark and plans for afterward were not yet established. Megan joined a few friends for pictures and then we were ushered out of Towson's arena. Her mood seemed to lighten. Megan, Bridget and Emma all loved the idea of going to a local boba tea place, so that is what we did. We played cards together, drank our tea and enjoyed each other before heading back to the parking garage. We dropped Emma off at her car and then made the way back home. We were all pretty exhausted after a long day.

I am so proud of Megan and I look forward to her next path. This path really can be any that she puts the effort into. Next up is Senior week at Chincoteague, VA. She and Savannah rented a house together for 5 nights. I hope it is a fun fresh start for the next stage in life.

Congratulations Megan! I love you!

Senior Year- Megan

We enroll our children in the education system, and continue through the primary, middle and high school stages. It is expected and ordinary, and yet each child's experience, highlights and struggles are unique. Megan's path included dyslexia, mean girls, and a pandemic. It also included good friends, library carts and great teachers interactions, creative pursuits, photography and a 5 on the AP Psych exam. Some of it was just slogging through and Megan found her way.

I worried for Megan sometimes during her school years. Worried that she and those around her didn't see her intelligence and would discount her. I know it happened and I know it impacted how Megan saw herself as a student. In the thick of the pandemic, the majority of her friends were in college hunt mode, with applications and essays and to-do lists. Megan struggled to approach the idea and the pressure and competitiveness of it all was a turnoff. For years she has been drawn to the idea of being a midwife and saw herself capable of achieving that goal but the steps in between were foggy. 

She and I visited a few colleges, talked of nursing programs, and looked ahead. She decided not to apply to any of the colleges and instead attend the community college focusing on the nursing program there and then transfer to a 4 year program. It took a little bit of time for her to feel proud of that decision, some friends were snobby about college, but I know that Jim and I are proud of her. When we toured CCBC she didn't think she was Honor college material and I had to remind her of her GPA. She doesn't realize how well she has done.

We spent a fun day taking senior portraits and we were pleased with the images we got, just in time to order graduation announcements and pick one for our wall.

Megan was voted Best Dressed in the senior superlatives, and this was really fitting. There was so much of high school and especially the pandemic that she couldn't control, but she could control her clothing. When most of her classmates wore leggings, t-shirts and headbands, Megan picked out an outfit from her hand-me-downs and thrift store finds. 

The end of the year came in careening fast with lots of activities being allowed with modifications at the last moments. 

Megan was the Treasurer for her SWE, Society of Women Engineers Club, and was one of the team captains. They built a cool Rube Goldberg machine with the goal of opening a book. Her team picked the theme of the movie UP and called themselves the Wilderness Explorers. The team made Top 20, and won the People's choice award. 

Megan was thrilled to get to go to her Senior Prom. We went thrift shopping and she found a simple lavender dress that fit really well. She picked pearls as her accessory, so I did her hair and added pearl accents. I made the corsage and boutineer to match.  Zach would be driving in from Notre Dame right after finals. It caused a little stress when Megan discovered that Zach had not gotten his tie or shirt in order, but he found one that day at a local shop. Her cousin Joseph is dating one of Megan's classmates Eva, so the two couples would be going to events together. Zach had some family obligations and would be coming a little late, so that they missed the big group pictures. It was really rainy so we took pictures on the front porch before they headed to sync up with a big group of friends and then off to the Marriott for the Prom. There was no official school afterparty, but one of her friends hosted a big group of them at her house that evening.  Megan was all smiles when she talked about the night.

Megan was invited to the Senior award ceremony and received a reward for Service, being one of the students in her class with the most service hours. She had prom, and senior sunset and then onto graduation.

Megan turns 18

 Jan 29, 2022

     My sweet baby and fellow middle child has turned eighteen and heads toward a place of competent independence. I find myself more and more comfortable with her handling things, making arrangements, driving herself, making choices. It is amazing to be able to see our wonderful young woman perched to step further into the broader world. But perched as she is it's not time to leave just yet. I feel so blessed to have her near by and speak to her throughout the day.

For her birthday she was greeted with breakfast in bed. That evening the whole family got together for dinner at Outback and presents at home with chocolate cannoli. 

It is a blessing to get to wake her up and wake her up again, and kiss her soft warm cheek each morning. It is a blessing to know her and know that less words are better in the morning. To know that she appreciates that coffee is brewed and was thrilled that the cappuccino mix was finally back on the store shelves. It is a blessing to see her choose outfits and develop her sense of style. It is a blessing to see her collages and wire art. It is a blessing to carefully step through the explosion of her belongings and a week later see her put things back in their place again, even if only for a short time. It is a blessing to see her anticipation of her boyfriend's visit, and see him skip steps as he alights to our front porch in reciprocal anticipation.  It is a blessing to see her plainly state her standards to him and to be given a moment of focus on her birthday. It is a blessing to see her play games with her cousins on Friday nights. It is a blessing to see her scratch Johanna's back during Mass when Johanna is spiraling up. I am savoring these moments, as I know they are part of a season, and that season is starting to turn.

To celebrate the turning of the year, she asked if we could host a party, a tea party, outside in February. Megan had an idea of what she'd like and it was fun to support her plan. She envisioned a  low table with cushions for seating, table linens topped with candles and teacups. She and I went to an estate sale and began gathering items. as we were driving back we decided to stop at a few thrift stores and we completed our collection of gold and cream teacups. A few more stops rounded out the collection of pillows and then Bridget sewed pillow covers for them. We took advantage of after Christmas sales and got some greenery to dress up the tents.

We planned finger sandwiches, pastries, fruit, vegetables and cheeses. but as we planned out the menu the weather reports turned to snow. 

We debated how to do everything and with much discussion we worked out a plan, that included tarps to keep the concrete dry, tent set up, space heaters and testing to avoid blowing a fuse, which we did and made adjustments. The whole family pitched in because we had a tight schedule with some things happening before Mass and so many happening after. Jim, Megan Bridget, Johanna and I got everything set up just in time. It was beautiful.

Megan's friends began to arrive and enjoyed the environment we created. They joked about Megan planning their weddings. The ground had a layer of snow and some flakes were still falling. So despite the space heaters and tents it was still chilly. But we were prepared with sherpa blankets for each guest, and most everyone wrapped up or put one across their laps.

Bridget stayed available and helped throughout the party with refills and moving trays of food in an out as needed. Megan and the guests all settled in to comfortable chatting and eating. They had a great time and didn't need me again until it was time for dessert. Megan chose cheesecake as her dessert and we put a candle in her bite-sized piece. It was fun to sing in a big group and celebrate Megan.

May almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you my child for time and eternity, and may this blessing remain forever with you. Amen

Happy Birthday Megan!

Our Newest Driver

 Sept 19, 2021

      With senior year off to a semi-stable start, it was time to check another notch toward independence. Megan had been practicing driving, back and forth to work all summer and the initial fear and anxiety had faded. Megan was feeling pretty ready. Some aspects of driving came easier than others but she was getting the hang of it. With the pandemic waning we decided to prioritize scheduling her driver's test. The pandemic version of the test had been simplified and focused mainly on parking but without a parallel parking requirement. Megan had proved that she had good parking skills and seemed to have a natural spatial understanding.

Everything went smoothly, and despite some nervousness, Megan passed without much trouble. 

We aren't quite ready for her to take the car out on her own yet. We want her to have a little more road practice but she'll be be out on her own soon.