Snow is falling in Edmonton and the cold weather of Fall up north means school is back in session. For Tristan it is finally the senior year of college at Lehigh. For Aidan, it is a start all over again as he is studying at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton. Dallyn is at Choate for high school in his Junior year. All the boys moving in different directions with little no real confirmed long term destination.
Tristan. It has been a long journey. Eight years ago he left for Westminster School. Four years there, then a gap year. Finished three years at Lehigh and now into his fourth and final year. Lots of miles traveled during that time. All the travel between the schools and home, two summers playing in Whitby, Ontario, one summer in Victoria, BC, one summer in Burnaby, BC. There was the trip to Australia to tryout for the Team Australia Indoor Lacrosse team. Hope the kid signed up for air miles.
Aidan. His journey brought him home. Always the one that cherished his own space at home, he is back. Aidan spent one year at Cardigan Mountain School, then four years at Williston Northampton School, then a gap year at home before going to Ithaca College for half a year. It was not a good fit at Ithaca so Aidan made his way back. He entered the workforce in January 2018 doing manual labor in a steel shop. The pay was great, but the overall work was tough and demanding. He knew he wanted to get back to school and just a few days ago started back at University. There is no certain objective, but it is nice to see him back at school, comfortable and in a good frame of mind.
Dallyn. Back at Choate for his second year at the school in his Junior year. Last year it took Dallyn some time to settle in at Choate, but ended up doing well academically and on the lacrosse field. He had a great summer playing lacrosse and seeing his friends from home. Going back to Choate, I sensed more confidence and comfort in Dallyn. Not going into an unknown situation definitely helps. No football this year for Dallyn as he made the decision that that he is going to use the Fall to work out and get stronger. Still little Dallyn in our minds, but he sure grew up a lot in the last 12 months.
All three of the boys are moving in different directions still uncertain of what their plans will be. The paths were much more defined when they were younger and I knew exactly where they were going to be the next year. That certainty is no longer there. Decision making is starting to move from parents to child. We still have some say as none of the three are financially independent, but the level of persuasion is not as strong as it used to be. As they move in their different directions I just want to be a spectator and enjoy the ride. If they could only move without requiring my assistance that would be perfect, but we are not quite there yet.
Here is what I am going to do. I have made a promise to myself that for the next 12 months I am going to try and enjoy their paths. They are in that part of their life where they have so many opportunities that I will urge them to consider. Do the things you want to now before you are tied down with responsibilities and commitments. And when all of them are together with us we need to celebrate and enjoy that time because it does not happen often enough anymore.
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