Reflections From a Father of a High School Graduate
If you have read my blog for long then you know that I have two great boys of whom I am extremely proud. They are so incredibly different, but both special in their own way.
Today is graduation for our youngest son Nate. His name was once Nathaniel, but I am trying to adjust and honor his new identity. Nate is the entertainer child in our home. He’s fiercely independent, yet at the same time cares very much what I think and for my opinion. Nate has been planning his future since he was about 3 years old, so we fully expect great things from him. You can read his blog at www.nateedmondson.com or follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nateedmondson
Here are the quick thoughts and memories going through my mind about Nate today:
When Nate was a newborn I would come home from work and let him sleep on my chest every night. Those days passed so fast.
When Nate was 8 months old he gave up drinking from a bottle. He wanted a cup. His mom stressed, the doctor said he would be fine, but this was one of our first clues that he would chart his own course in life.
One time after a large storm I was cleaning up our front yard. Nate was about 2 years old and loved his shiny red boots. I saw him pouncing through the water in a ditch. When I scolded him he said, “Daddy, I’m Peter and I’m walking on the water.” I decided to let him pounce.
Nate was never a child that liked to snuggle or be held much. Sad to admit but I used to enjoy times he was sick so he would let me hold him.
Nate played Superman with his red boots and a red robe for a couple years. Every night I would hold the belt to the robe and let him run around me with his “super powers” until he would pass out from exhaustion.
At 3 years old Nate became the neighborhood backyard preacher standing on a tree stump behind our house.
Nate was a great young athlete. We threw the baseball and football thousands of times. It is when we had our best conversations.
Putting Nate to bed at night was always a long experience. My goal and his expectation was that I would make him laugh and we laughed a lot.
Nate has always taken the longest showers of anyone in the house. My most used line, “Hurry up Nathaniel!”
Our house has been filled with the sound of music the last few years listening to Nate bang keys on a keyboard or pick a guitar searching for the perfect note. He has become an incredibly well-rounded self-taught musician.
Nate is a natural leader. He needs projects and responsibility. When he has a task he performs beyond expectations. Nate has been instrumental in so many different areas within our church plant.
Nate has had an incredible experience in high school and from everything we have been told did an exceptional job as student body president.
Nate is more than a son. He’s a great friend. He has taught me so much about life just as his brother Jeremy has. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to God for the blessing of being his dad.
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