ConGRADulations

Ah, June, the glorious month full of graduations and weddings.

June is about ceremonies and celebrations, embarking on new journeys, whether they be of academic or matrimonial in nature.

The promise of summer and what lies ahead.

This past weekend we celebrated my daughter, Lotus, and the culmination of her 8 years at the Berkshire Waldorf School.

Festivities began Friday with a tear-jerking "Rose Ceremony," where the first graders each give the outgoing 8th graders a rose as the teacher names the graduating student. It's the inverse of the first day of school Rose Ceremony in September 2021. Then the 8th graders welcomed an incoming 1st grader by walking them down the aisle, the new first-grade teacher called the new child's name, and the 8th grader handed each of them a rose. It is at once adorable and emotional. I have been to several Rose Ceremonies at this school, but this one was my last.

Lotus' graduation was also very much an ending of sorts for me. After 9 years of being an active part of the parent body: baking, crafting, fundraising, being a "soup-for-teachers parent," "holiday-handcraft fair" lead, Pizza mom, and class rep for my kids' grades every year, this was my community, these were my people.

It is the end of an era for both of us, for all of us, as a family.

Lotus was chosen to speak at the graduation ceremony on Saturday morning.

In her speech, she wrote,

"Words can hardly describe all of the emotions surrounding our leaving; incredulity, relief, excitement, and sadness are just a few of them."

Life is like that. There are lots of feelings and emotions, and the talent is to have space around and to honor each one.

Every new adventure may also bring trepidation, doubt, excitement, and joy.

Lotus spoke eloquently and elegantly.

I cried, watching her up there. (Some people present may even have described it as sobbing.) I was simultaneously full of pride, joy, happiness, and sadness. All the feelings.

Now Lotus is on to the adventures of high school.

However, first, we are taking her on a celebratory trip to Spain, where she will spend a week volunteering at a rescue-horse sanctuary. Then we will go on a 4-day riding trip in Andalusia and wrap it up with 3 days in Madrid.

Celebrating her and all of her accomplishments.

I'm excited (mostly) and trepidatious (a little) about this new adventure.

Making space for it all.

With so much love,

Kari