This post has been rattling around in my head for a minute, so it's time to give it a go.
This afternoon my baby boy graduated from high school. Holy. Moly.
When your kid starts kindergarten, you don't assume that during the weeks leading up to his high school graduation you'll be praying that he passes all of his classes. But for some of us out here, that's where we found ourselves 13 years later. And our kids are awesome.
So this post is in honor of my baby boy - a kid for whom the academic grind never came easy but who got it done anyway. He's one of the smartest people I know, and I'm continually amazed at how quickly he learns how to do something and then makes it happen like it was nothing.
This week I was reminded of the time Keaton won a cooler at the fishing tournament in our neighborhood. After he brought it home he outfitted it with wheels and holders for fishing rods so he and his buddies could roll it down to the pond and take it fishing whenever they wanted. I think he was about ten, and that was only one of many times he built/constructed/dreamt up something and then just did it.
When he competed in gymnastics he always seemed happiest when his teammates did well.
He knows all of our neighbors by name and talks to them regularly. (Trey and I can't claim that skill.)
He visits his grandparents because he just wants to spend time with them. Even the ones who live two hours away.
He is kind and fun and the most hard working person I know.
And because I apparently can't have a post without making it about school, here's that part:
He took his last day of school picture his junior year with the parking lot attendant, and his favorite people in the whole school were the attendance office and counseling office staff where he worked as a student aide.
During his senior year of high school he finished 8 certifications through ASE (Automotive Service Excellence).
And now something for the school people:
If you were of the very, very few of Keaton's teachers who thought to yourself "this kid is irresponsible," then I hope you can reflect and know how wrong you were. He has worked since he was barely 15 and has skills for life that many adults don't have. He has a servant's heart and would do just about anything for you whether he knows you or not. School not being a kid's favorite thing in the world is not a character flaw.
And if you're one of the many, many teachers who sat next him and told him he could do it when he just didn't seem to care, or if you're an elementary teacher who let him wiggle and reminded him he could do anything he set his mind to, or if you're someone who took late work and only penalized with a lecture because you knew he learned what he needed to in your class and it was all about the learning anyway...if you're one of these teachers then the Hickmans and this mom thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You are the best of the best.
So here's to Keats and all the other kids who looked in the mirror this graduation week and finally let it sink in that they made it. And then they took a deep, joyful breath because where they go from here is all up to them.
I'm not naïve enough to think he's perfect, but if you ask me he's pretty darn close.
We love you, kid! And we are so very proud of the exceptional human you are!
