School is Back in Session - But Not the Same as usual, Well at least not for me 😀

Looking at Facebook and Instagram this week to see all of the first day-week of school pictures had me in my feelings for a moment, realizing Joshua is no longer in grade school; he is officially a college student. 

Wow - he is on a new path and it happened all so fast. We had plans as soon as he started high school and that was -you are going to AWAY to college.  So get comfortable with the idea buddy, I used to say..  I was determined that he was going to experience what I didn't.  Campus life with all the fixins.  I strongly believed I missed out on steps of independence by not living on campus or going out of state for college.  Yup, so he was getting out of here just to have a taste of life even if he decided to come home after a semester or two.  

So in true form as the project planning queen that I am, we had a whole college application map put together. We carved out colleges prioritized by major, region, cost, etc.  After 22 college tours and follow up one one one admissions meetings, he nailed down his top 5. I thank God for the grace and favor, Joshua was accepted to every school he applied to. 

After getting his final acceptance package he said “Mommy - I don't want to go away”.  I said “Huh - what you mean, huh!”  Huh is my go to when I am speechless.  I had to intentionally stop everything, including my panic to be present so I could listen and hear his heart. 

✅He said I love remote learning - you see my grades have soared since I started remote school. 

✅Honestly I am not ready now but I do have a plan for the next two years and I will be ready to go, I know how much you want me to have this experience because you didn't - however i need you to hear my voice and understand what I want and why.  

✅With the uncertainty of Covid I just want to stay home.  

He came prepared to have this conversation with me and had his rebuttals ready to address all of my concerns. He said I prayed and I am confident everything will work out fine.  

So I said all of that to say - we might have mapped out these elaborate plans for our children based on our desires for them - which as parents, we are supposed to do…… 

We must remember not to allow our  dream to drown out the voice of our children.   As mamas we have to hear God’s voice as well as our children and be the faithful guardian to guide them on a path to purpose.  Their purpose is not tied up in the “what I didn't have or do  when I was a child, so you have to do it” mindset! 

To sum it all up - yes we had to do a whole new college search for schools who offered online programs with his desired major -we narrowed it down to 4  and yes he was accepted to all and he chose UAT - I am so excited for this next phase in this journey of life❤️