More parenting milestones...

[jackshoegazer]

Ethan has been to a few school dances before, in middle school, but those were right after school, during the day and not formal at all.  Last night, Ethan went to his first Homecoming dance.  He had a date (a friend from cross-country, nothing serious, just friends, he says) and it was from 8:30 to 11pm.  Afterward, he spent the night at a friend's house.  I know the kind of trouble I got into unsupervised when I was young and I worry so much.  I shouldn't, but I do.  A bit hypocritical, I suppose.  He seems to be in with a good crowd (cross-country athletes, piano players, and blues guitarists) and he can't be any stupider than I was at fourteen.  Sometimes it is easy to allow him his independence and accept his teenageriness.  Others, I am reminded that I have less than four years left with him, before he is an adult and autonomous.  This is the home-stretch, the last inning, and every day I have to let go a little bit more.










Here are some pictures I snapped before he left for the dance.  I learned how to do the Ediety, or the Atlantic knot for his tie.  In some ways, this makes me a bit sad, because I never had these moments with my father and it leaves me wondering if he felt this way as I got older.  So often he seemed so oblivious to me (and my siblings) as if we were just noise, a buzzing bee, interrupting a summer nap.  A wave of the hand, and all is quiet again.

Comments

[3starsinmyeyes.livejournal.com]

wow. Hes growing up SO fast! I hope he had a good time, he looks great! Also, sounds like a good group of kids he hangs with. You're doing a good job, dad!

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Though, I'm sure I screwed up somewhere. Everyone's parents screw them up somehow. I doubt I'm the exception :D

[fannyanns.livejournal.com]

wow.

Ethan looks kind of sad in the pics. like maybe he's not as thrilled as ... someone ought to be to be going to a dance. although, dances... yeah I understand.

It makes me think that you are doing such a good job - wondering about what your father missed... what you missed about not having a father and trying to be a good father to Ethan... I'm sure he'll appreciate it eventually.

like breathing, it's not what we know when we know it - it's what we know when something has been taken away that we appreciate it and even notice it... (maybe that's not a great analogy but...)

keep being there!!! (now to look at kitteh pics)

[kiwikat.livejournal.com]

Ethan always looks like that, it's his cool nonchalant teenager expression.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he never smiles for pictures. Always so serious :P

[kiwikat.livejournal.com]

His eyes look so amazing in the second to last photo! you can really see there how he looks halfway like a kid and half like an adult. It's so weird that he's that old already!

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Weird for you, imagine for me! I don't feel old enough to have a high schooler! Hell, at this rate, we're going to be in college at the same time.

[heatherlrowe.livejournal.com]

Ethan reminds me of my high school sweetheart. Ian always had that serious, soulful look to his eyes. If Ethan is anything at all like Ian, not only have you done an amazing job as a father, but he's going to become an amazing man as a result, and make you very proud.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Thank you. All I can say is I've done the best I could and tried desperately not to pass my issues further down the line, so he can more easily reach his own potential, which all we can hope to do.

[sasha-feather.livejournal.com]

You're a good dad. :)

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Thank, Sandy. That means a lot coming from you. I consider you a good person with an excellent moral compass and an analytical mind. Your opinions are well respected in JeremyLand.

[antidamen.livejournal.com]

That is one handsome young man! :D

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

What can I say, I contributed half of his genes.

[tetralogy.livejournal.com]

One year we've been friends... and today I learn out you're a parent. Handsome young tomcat :) Very posh. His date must be thrilled.

My dad always expected me to do the most horrible things... admittedly, he said, because he did them all.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

It hasn't exactly been a state secret :)

I think that's my worry - I think of all the trouble and stupid things I did growing up and I just hope he makes better decisions.

Good luck, soon-to-be parent.