On this day in 1998, I was surrounded with friends and family celebrating my graduation from high school; and on this day in 2012, I'm celebrating my son, my flesh and blood, my young man's entrance into high school.
To my Young Master Kendall I.F. Riley:
It's been a long and very trying three years, filled with ups and downs, countless changes, but more learning experiences than most people have in a lifetime. It may not seem like an accomplishment to some, but between you and me, WE KNOW.
Take the wisdom that was, is and will continue to be given to you, and use it. There should never be a day that you do not learn at least one new thing. This is YOUR time, YOUR moment and YOUR day. Make the most of it. You are a wonderful, bright and caring young man and it's time that the world sees you the way that I do: a leader with the potential for greatness who will rival and overshadow that of so many before you.
This is only the beginning for you, so many things will come to deter you from the goals that you've set for yourself, and when it does, don't hesitate to fall to your knees and surrender. Not surrendering to the pressure, or the circumstance, but surrendering to your Heavenly Father. He knows every single thing about you, even things that you and I don't know. I pray that you experience His power with unconditional surrender and total trust in His plan for your life.
As a mother, there's so much sadness that I could feel today, but I choose joy instead. Joy, because although I have not been the perfect parent (and never will be), I have confidence that you are already a much better human being that I could ever hope to be; not to mention you're almost out of the house :-) .
There will always be people and forces working against you, but take hold of the fact that there are so many who believe in you, even when you don't believe in yourself, and you'll never fail.
Unconditional, unchanging and undying love always,
Mama
