Thistles and Transitions

I've got a 10-year old living with me who's beyond strong-willed.  Possibly even more strong-willed than his mama.  A quality that's made raising him to this point test my parenting endurance, emotional stability and stress relieving vices beyond measure.  He's got a temper built of fire matched with the determination of steel.

He was offered $5 to cut down and haul off the ridiculous amount of thistles growing in the ditch.  He needed $5 to reach a financial goal he's been working on.  He told me later that evening he's saving up to buy a car in high school. 

It pretty gnarly looking stuff.  Plus it was 99 degrees that afternoon.  The thistles seemed to go on forever.  Definitely a challenge, but something he knew he could tackle.

So he did.

This week Ross came to terms with attending Interstate-35 School in August.  As a family, we've decided it makes sense for a variety of reasons.  Plus, thanks to Patty Loveless, we all know "Life's About Change, Nothing Ever Stays The Same."

There's no doubt we've got tough transitions ahead.  I know there will be days when switching schools will define me as the worst mom to walk the planet.  A bad day will be my fault and darn it, life is hard sometimes.

Yet I also know my boy.  I know Ross can handle a challenge like nobodies business.  And deep down, I believe as much as he is grieving the idea of leaving Winterset, his soul is excited to tackle the challenge of switching schools. 

After a few times of being scraped, cut and poked by the thistles, he began to figure out where the thistles were soft and the best way to remove them was to get 'under' them.  

Ironically, at the top of each thistle is a silky-soft flower. 

It's all about perspective and attitude. 

"Every Rose Has It's Thorn", right Poison?

This same boy applied for his passport this week and in a few short months, he'll get on an airplane to fly half-way across the world to meet his brother.

As grown-ups we have to consider the what-if's, the unknowns, the culture shock, all the scary stuff that makes switching schools seem like small potatoes.  Again, what if, what if, what if....

And then we talk about Mack and all the changes and transitions he'll be enduring, and suddenly our  issues seem pretty small in comparison.  Mack is going to have to say goodbye to the orphanage he grew up in, his teachers, his nannies, his friends, his homeland, his favorite foods, his schedule, his bed, his friends.... basically, life as he knows it.

And although we know he is coming to a safe, happy, healthy and loving family in the United States, he doesn't know us.  My heart aches for his 'what-if's, his unknowns, his culture shock, his fears of leaving China; the only place he knows and leaving any small sliver of hope that his birth mother might come back for him.

I asked our boy what he wanted to do this weekend, camping... fishing... hiking... building... kayaking...

His response.  "I just want Mack to get here."

Next year at this time, Ross can teach his thistle pulling techniques to Mack. 

I'm sure Mack will be thrilled.