The ‘yet’ at the end set my eyes a-crying’!! This is the most beautiful and thoughtful testament of a mother watching her baby graduate like seriously EVER. It’s perfect. To see your girl love the place you love— and thrive beyond measure— I just cannot imagine a better, more satisfying feeling. She did her thing, she found her people, she made her mark and you cheered her on and let her fly— it was amazing to behold, and I’m so glad you’ve distilled this part of motherhood into something so strikingly beautiful that I can draw upon later when it might feel lonely or scary to watch at a remove. It’s an incredibly moving piece — truth and beauty again, dearest. Congrats to the grad and congrats to you!! Love you so! 💕
She did do her thing. And I mean who could possibly know that BC offered so much??
Thank you for this comment, ever-framing as always and for being a big part of this grad's life, from ditching work to fly out as she was born to sitting on two Bapst lawns [wrong one then right one] to see her soar. You are a reader, a sister and an auntie for all the ages❤️
SO moving and poignant. I have't stopped crying (yet) - and my oldest is only finishing her high school sophomore year! You capture so much, so incredibly well, Jen. Keep going.
Just gorgeous. Wise, poignant, funny, with too many breathtaking passages to count (though off the top of my head, I'll say... 57? 58?). Here's to superhero modifiers and to unexpected gifts and to new beginnings!
Beautifully written as always Jen. Congratulations to you all for both surviving and thriving over these past 4 years….and here’s to the new chapters in all your lives that have not been written ….Yet!
Beautiful as usual. Lucky to have our 2 girls together with us for a family trip to Greece, cuz “how many more family trips can we count on?” Cherishing these moments.
My twins graduate from college this year. We have attended one graduation in NYC, the other is coming up, the second Saturday in June, in rural MN. They shared a room growing up, and now their passions and ambitions are taking them in very different directions. Thank you for so eloquently capturing so many of my mixed feelings; my twins overcame such rocky starts to college. Due to COVID in August/September 2020, we were not allowed to go into the dorms at all. My NYC daughter started freshman fall semester in our study; she was not on campus. And now, I am so happy, so proud, and so excited ... to see what comes next!
Thank you for reading, Kathryn ❤️And wow: twins which meant two times the pandemic penitentiary fun. Like you, I'm so proud of this class of kids for taking a bunch of pieces and making something whole. In the fall of 2020, it felt...unlikely. Enjoy celebrating this milestone and all that's yet to come!
I met Vic a few months ago as I was working for one of his portfolio companies and I think I was gushing over your writing. I am in awe of your talent. Your descriptions bring me exactly to where you are and many times really tug on my heartstrings. Looking forward to reading more (and maybe meeting you as I have one kid at SI). =)
This was a beautiful read - thank you! I have a child who has entered the liminal space between her week-ago high-school graduation and plans to start college abroad in September. We are still dizzy from the shock of our eldest having turned an adult. We need to steady ourselves before we then send her an ocean and half a continent away. But it gave me such pleasure earlier this week to have 2 college friends (one lives here, the other back in our home country) with us for a celebratory birthday dinner for me, giving her a snapshot of the marvel of such friendships to come.
They have to go forth to claim those Everything Friends, but the letting go is not easy ...Yet? I don't know if it ever gets easier. TBD! Congrats to your daughter (and you, bc truly HS graduation is a shared custody agreement ;). I hope you get many peeks at the vibrant life she makes abroad in the fall! Thank you for reading, Justine❤️
Shared, with a nod to an old (I did qualify the modifier) friend from my own halcyon days amid those same walls and halls. Were it that I could still encapsulate them so well, however content I may be to have their ebbing memory unexpectedly and intermittently return like the faint smell of wood burning during a cold autumnal evening.
I just came across this piece and, yes, started waxing nostalgic about my own BC graduation many, many moons ago! We also live in the Bay Area, and I have a son who is an Eagle now. Thanks for writing about your cross-country trips and all that goes into parenting kids these ages. Very relatable.
How lucky am I to have had exposure from elementary nymph right on through? 🥰
How I love this piece! Congrats to you and your special graduate!
A nymph fueled by little baked squares throughout ;)
The ‘yet’ at the end set my eyes a-crying’!! This is the most beautiful and thoughtful testament of a mother watching her baby graduate like seriously EVER. It’s perfect. To see your girl love the place you love— and thrive beyond measure— I just cannot imagine a better, more satisfying feeling. She did her thing, she found her people, she made her mark and you cheered her on and let her fly— it was amazing to behold, and I’m so glad you’ve distilled this part of motherhood into something so strikingly beautiful that I can draw upon later when it might feel lonely or scary to watch at a remove. It’s an incredibly moving piece — truth and beauty again, dearest. Congrats to the grad and congrats to you!! Love you so! 💕
She did do her thing. And I mean who could possibly know that BC offered so much??
Thank you for this comment, ever-framing as always and for being a big part of this grad's life, from ditching work to fly out as she was born to sitting on two Bapst lawns [wrong one then right one] to see her soar. You are a reader, a sister and an auntie for all the ages❤️
SO moving and poignant. I have't stopped crying (yet) - and my oldest is only finishing her high school sophomore year! You capture so much, so incredibly well, Jen. Keep going.
I really love keep going coming from someone else who keeps going❤️thank you, my friend.
Just gorgeous. Wise, poignant, funny, with too many breathtaking passages to count (though off the top of my head, I'll say... 57? 58?). Here's to superhero modifiers and to unexpected gifts and to new beginnings!
Ooh I'll take 57 or 58. We both know stats in this biz are oh so important ;)
And thank you to one of the best writers on substack who isn't a household name...YET❤️
Beautifully written as always Jen. Congratulations to you all for both surviving and thriving over these past 4 years….and here’s to the new chapters in all your lives that have not been written ….Yet!
Thank you, Karen❤️you and your family are excellent models of YET :)
Beautiful as usual. Lucky to have our 2 girls together with us for a family trip to Greece, cuz “how many more family trips can we count on?” Cherishing these moments.
Thank you, Joe. And thanks for being that doctor in the family I dreamed about. Enjoy that trip with your girls❤️
Congratulations to the grad and her mom. I love the ending!
Thank you, Alice. Of course you loving the ending means just a little bit extra ;) ❤️
My twins graduate from college this year. We have attended one graduation in NYC, the other is coming up, the second Saturday in June, in rural MN. They shared a room growing up, and now their passions and ambitions are taking them in very different directions. Thank you for so eloquently capturing so many of my mixed feelings; my twins overcame such rocky starts to college. Due to COVID in August/September 2020, we were not allowed to go into the dorms at all. My NYC daughter started freshman fall semester in our study; she was not on campus. And now, I am so happy, so proud, and so excited ... to see what comes next!
Thank you for reading, Kathryn ❤️And wow: twins which meant two times the pandemic penitentiary fun. Like you, I'm so proud of this class of kids for taking a bunch of pieces and making something whole. In the fall of 2020, it felt...unlikely. Enjoy celebrating this milestone and all that's yet to come!
So good Jen!
Thank you ,my friend❤️
Beautiful. Love reading your pieces.
Thank you so much for reading, Leigh❤️
I met Vic a few months ago as I was working for one of his portfolio companies and I think I was gushing over your writing. I am in awe of your talent. Your descriptions bring me exactly to where you are and many times really tug on my heartstrings. Looking forward to reading more (and maybe meeting you as I have one kid at SI). =)
This was a beautiful read - thank you! I have a child who has entered the liminal space between her week-ago high-school graduation and plans to start college abroad in September. We are still dizzy from the shock of our eldest having turned an adult. We need to steady ourselves before we then send her an ocean and half a continent away. But it gave me such pleasure earlier this week to have 2 college friends (one lives here, the other back in our home country) with us for a celebratory birthday dinner for me, giving her a snapshot of the marvel of such friendships to come.
They have to go forth to claim those Everything Friends, but the letting go is not easy ...Yet? I don't know if it ever gets easier. TBD! Congrats to your daughter (and you, bc truly HS graduation is a shared custody agreement ;). I hope you get many peeks at the vibrant life she makes abroad in the fall! Thank you for reading, Justine❤️
Shared, with a nod to an old (I did qualify the modifier) friend from my own halcyon days amid those same walls and halls. Were it that I could still encapsulate them so well, however content I may be to have their ebbing memory unexpectedly and intermittently return like the faint smell of wood burning during a cold autumnal evening.
Your old (elderly) friend thanks you. The pics of senior week nights in the mods look just like ours. So much collagen and clarity ago!
I just came across this piece and, yes, started waxing nostalgic about my own BC graduation many, many moons ago! We also live in the Bay Area, and I have a son who is an Eagle now. Thanks for writing about your cross-country trips and all that goes into parenting kids these ages. Very relatable.
Beautiful piece!!
Thank you, Amy!