Many people wonder what it’s like to be a graduate living on your own, having your own home and life style – it is so intriguing to the those still in high school. Yet, many ignore the parents of those graduates and how they feel now that their child has moved onto this stage of his or her life. Last year, Lannon and Lacey Pickering graduated and their mom Mrs. Pickering was generous enough to answer some questions I had about being a mom to two graduates
1.Q. How do you feel now that your children have graduated?
A – Now that Landon and Lacey have graduated, it has been extremely different here at Delphi. I miss seeing them everyday, but I’m extremely excited for everything they’re accomplishing. They have moved on to adulthood and are loving their new lives. Lannon is working and making a significant amount of money and Lacey is at DePaul and is killing it her freshman year. She is even playing on a competitive co-ed volleyball team.
2.Q. What was your favorite part of being a parent to your children?
A – My favorite part of being their parent was watching them set goals and achieve them but also just watching them come into their own as individuals. I loved watching them help other people and just being kind human beings. I love watching them interact with each other and with family but most of all just watching them grow up.
3.Q. Were you more happy or sad to see your children graduate from school?
A – I was extremely happy when they graduated. I knew there was some struggles during high school for both of them and they were ready to graduate. Once they graduated, they started their new lives and seemed to be much happier. There were things that they missed about high school. They absolutely loved the extracurricular activities and they missed the competitive side of it, however they have met so many new people and had so many new experiences that it is nice to see them with a smiles on their faces.
4.Q. What was your favorite part of your children’s senior year?
A – My favorite part of my kids senior year was watching them compete in sports. I absolutely loved watching them compete in athletics – it was just enjoyable. For Lacey, I enjoyed watching her basketball and softball. For Lannon, I enjoyed watching him wrestle. It was a sport him and I connected on. Overall, just watching them set goals, reach those goals, and watching them each take their own path in life. Such as Landon getting into the welding program and Lacey going off to college. Watching Lacey choose which college she was going to go to since she earned the Lily scholarship was pretty amazing so there was just a lot of cool things that happened for both of them.
5.Q. Were you ready for your children to graduate?
A – I was very much ready for my kids to graduate. I knew they were ready for the real world. I miss them some days more than others, because they would like to come in and bother me when I was in the middle of class or in the middle of the day which can be stressful for a teacher. I do miss my middle of the day hugs from Landon or Lacey coming in just to give me a smile. However, I knew they were ready to get out into the real world and start living their adult life.
6.Q. If you could have said something to them before they walked up onto that stage and gotten their diploma, what would it have been?
A – Today, I just want you to know that I’m extremely proud of you. I love you and I am beyond excited for your new journey in life. I will always be here for you no matter what and I hope that you know you can always come home and if you ever need me. I am one phone call away. (She got emotional while answering)