Well, grad week is over, we had a lot of fun. For me, the best part was getting to see the ways in which other people see my son. You see, he's a somewhat eccentric kid, socially awkward because he doesn't read people's signals well, and fights with his siblings a lot because of it. He's gotten better over the years - as he matures - but is still a little different.
So you can imagine how these things warmed my heart: - the note in his yearbook from one of the pretty, "popular" girls - a mere acquaintance but someone who has been in school with him since elementary school - who wrote "you have always been kind to me, no matter what".
- the congratulations card from a former classmate who lives in New Mexico now - a brilliant boy who skipped 3 grades and is in college now at 15 - who wrote "I'll always remember how you were the first person to welcome me at high school and invite me to eat lunch"
- the school friend of his at the party, who, overhearing my niece making a joke about what my son would do with his varied interests - she said "maybe he'll become an evil genius" and S18's friend replied "but he can't be an evil genius, because he doesn't have any enemies".
- the mother of some classmates, an active mom on campus who I know only peripherally but my son has become close to over the years, so he wanted to make sure she came to his party - telling me how much she has enjoyed my son over the years.
Weel, it sure makes me feel good. He's growing out of his awkwardness, and there are plenty of people who recognize his warmth and genuineness.
