There Goes My LIfe

She hugged them both and headed off to the west coast.
And he cried, "There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
I love you, Baby, good-bye."
-- Kenny Chesney

When my Baby Girl graduated from high school, we had the opportunity to submit a baby picture and a short message to her in the yearbook. I gave them the words "There goes my life, my future, my everything, I love you Baby." She recognized it for the Kenny Chesney song it was, and it made her happy. I heard the song driving home from work today, and it made me happy. It's about a young man upset he's going to become a dad and worried "there goes my life" and how it turns into his love for his daughter as she grows up and eventually leaves home and he feels a part of him is leaving.

The first one to leave home was Theresa, who did go off to the west coast. Laura went off to the east coast. And Sarah went off to southern Minnesota. And eventually, they all came back again. And left again. And so it goes, and probably does with most families. Right now we have one at home, one in Ireland, and one who's been living with her boyfriend not too far away for several years. But that's not what the song made me think about. I've been doing a lot of genealogy and I've been thinking about the legacy we leave behind....both in terms of the work we do and the family we grow. If my grandparents were alive today and were to say, "There goes my life...." What would they see?

On my father's side, my grandparents would see three children, fourteen grandchildren, and twenty-seven great-grandchildren. They would see 5 teachers, 3 in theater, 3 in business, 1 engineer, 1 diplomat, 2 health professionals , 1 in the music field, and others who are students going into law, and various other fields. Not to mention those who have devoted their career to raising their children and volunteer work.

On my mother's side, my grandparents would see three children, thirteen grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren. They would see 10 in business, 3 engineers, 1 diplomat, 1 in education, 1 mechanic, 1 lawyer, and students going into law and theater. Not to mention those who have devoted their career to raising their children and volunteer work.

It's important to me how I've raised my children, my life, my legacy. I'm proud that they're all so different and of the life they've chosen. But it also matters to me the life of every child I touch. It's as important to me as all the Science lessons I ever prepared, all the Reading lessons I ever taught. I have a special place in my heart for the kids who struggle to be at school...struggle to sit still, struggle to get along, struggle to find the good in themselves. It's almost always the boys and almost always the boys who have never had someone believe in them and treat them positively.

Sometimes it's as simple as letting them know my office is a safe place and they can always come talk to me. Or letting them know I'll treat them fairly and with respect. Other times it's a battle of wills...of me going round after round with them that they are worth something and I am not going to give up on them and yes-they-can-do-it so let's try again. And again. And again. Some stand out more than others.

But they are just as much my life, my future, my everything, as my own daughters.