"So, What's the Difference?"

I have traveled this journey before. The High School Senior now graduated soon to be college Freshman. I have seen the signs of change before. Expensive trips to Target for items never before thought of by my teenager now young adult. Plastic cloth hampers filled with the essentials for college living. Items such as laundry detergents, towels, shampoos, linens and other things seem to be gathering before my very eyes. So, this isn't strange to have my second child preparing for his exit from home into the pre-adult launching stage of college life. It's his turn now.

Maybe it's strange after all. He is eager, excited, and counting the days. I get updates on his face book page. Forget the fantasy of having face to face conversations. Communication is now delegated to cyber connections along with the rest of his "friends." I'm not complaining. I'm quite grateful that I'm allowed to be a friend among friends. I could have been "blocked" you know.

So, my updates on his pending move surface on daily posts through his face book community. I read the writing on the wall. I guess that is the point now. Maybe that's the difference. The writing is on the wall now that things are transitioning and changing. Funny how that works. It's easy to get sensitive about it. A moment of quiet consideration brings clarity about this generation and its ability to multitask communication through so many layers of social networking. It's mind blowing.

I have a decision to make regarding the inevitable change ahead. I can accept it. I can ignore it. I can resist it. The best choice is probably to accept the change and learn to be different without losing who I am or insisting my young man be someone who fits into my expectations of who he should be or who we should be together.

The other day I wrote on his wall. I tried very hard to not be parental. I didn't get blocked. So, I suppose, for now I didn't come across too parental. Later that evening, we had a laugh at what I wrote and what I had seen on his site. He is different than me, but that's what I want. I want him to be him. I want him to be different. Life will be richer for him that way.

Soon it will be different again at our home. We have successfully downsized our home from four to two. I recently overheard the younger two rekindling their relationship knowing it is just the two of them now. I was touched.

What's the difference? I don't fully know yet. Everyones change is different. For now, it's fascinating to see their growth from weird adolescents to emerging young adults. It's a big world they're getting into. I'm eager to see the difference they make.

Ken