The last baby bird is about to leave our family nest. We started with one baby bird almost 24 years ago, and she was joined by two more crazy little birds a couple of years later. At times, we thought this would go on for ever ... crying, feeding, bathing, shopping, doctors and dentist visits, school interviews with teachers, field trips, and soon we were facing orthodontists and taking them to driving school.
Then the first graduated from high school and went to university ... ah, living student life vicariously was fun (of course, I didn't have to commute an hour each way by bus). The twins soon followed in their sister's footsteps, graduating and starting post secondary education, but taking quite different directions. In a short time, the firstborn married, moved, and started a new chapter in her education and work experience. Older twin (by 5 minutes) went to college locally and then in Dawson Creek, and within 4 months had started on the career path that he still enjoys today. Younger twin went to the local university and is less than 3 weeks away from finishing his course work.
It's not that I have been longing for an empty nest. I've enjoyed my little ones even after they became big ones, and then grew taller than me. I look up to the three of them, not just in the physical sense. They are remarkable human beings who are heading toward their goals and setting new ones once those are achieved. We have a family chat on Facebook, and each was recounting what they were achieving this year ... then someone commented "and what have you done, Mom?" Well, my dears, you are my gold medals, my Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes. I have had my university education, teacher training, years of various employment, and now have my dream job at last. But you are my legacy and when you achieve, I bask in the reflected glow.
The updated achievement for the firstborn will be her Bachelor of Arts in French this June. She has also maintained a private tutoring business through the last few years, working with students of many ages. This year has been a challenge, as she and her husband also moved to another apartment and he is presently looking for a position in worship ministry. There were many ups and downs and changes, but she has weathered them without being worn down. Next fall will be the teacher training professional/practicum year ... but I feel as though she is miles ahead of where I was at her age, wise beyond her years.
The secondborn has been living on his own and working for more than two years. He too moved to a new rental accommodation this year. After finishing the academic portion of his Aircraft Maintenance Engineer course, he worked for several companies and has gradually achieved journeyman AME status. He also gets to spend time away from base (aka - home) at various camps where he does maintenance on his company's helicopters, and his next destination is Newfoundland (which apparently has just been snowed in again). This will make him the one in our family who has been the furthest east in Canada, the previous record held by his sister on her two visits to Quebec.
And that last nestling is spreading his wings with university graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He has made several trips to North Vancouver for job interviews and has just accepted a position with a company there ... while also being accepted into the graduate school of UBC to begin a Masters degree this fall. He just got word that he will receive a travel scholarship to attend a computer technology conference in Silicon Valley. So the next month will be a busy time of exams, finishing coursework, finding a place to live, and moving away from home to begin his new adventure, accompanied by his faithful (and ferocious) cat, Snowball.
Now, all I have to figure out is how to get to two graduations in cities five hours apart, which are being held on consecutive days ... during my work week. It may be a challenge, but when I see what my offspring are accomplishing, their effort is worth my time to go and celebrate with them.
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