RAVE - My son, Danny...

[Golden Gate Geckos]

When I married my husband Glenn, he was a single Dad with a teenage daughter (Julie) and a younger son (Danny). I raised his kids, and have always considered them to be my own children... I couldn't love them any more if I had given birth to them!

Julie was pregnant with our granddaughter who is now almost 16. She dropped out of school, and has had a hard life with 2 kids now and no high school education.

Danny in inherited $100,000 on his 18th birthday, just 3 months short of graduating from high school. He stopped going to school, and after buying a car, spent most of the money on partying and drugs. Danny has been arrested for 2 DUI's, been in rehab, fired from 3 jobs, been in horrible fights, and went through counseling.

Needless to say, we were disappointed and worried about our children's futures.

Well, yesterday Danny, now aged 28, called and asked if he could come over for dinner. (He likes my cooking!) We were all sitting on the back patio, and he said he had something he wanted to share with us. It was his HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA!!! He had gone back to night school, and finished all his classes. It's a diploma, not a GED!

I am so very proud of my son. I think it takes a lot of courage, determination, and integrity to admit he blew it by not graduating... and especially to go back to school and earn his diploma after 10 years of being out of school! He said that at first he was doing it for us, then realized he was actually doing it for himself because he wants to pull himself out of his rut and have better opportunities for his future. He has now enrolled for Fall classes at our local Junior College.

What a wonderful dinner we had last night!

 

[Mel&Keith]

Hooray! That's amazing, Marcia. Hopefully this is just the beginning of fantastic things to come for him and your relationship.

 

[T&KBrouse]

What wonderful news, Marcia!!
You know, no matter what they do, they're always your babies. You pray for them during the bad times and rejoice for them when things like this happen!

Congratulations to the proud Momma And Daddy!!!!

 

[Ccrashca069]

That is just awesome News Marcia. I bet you are very proud of him. I hope he can change his life around.

 

[GeckoJunkie]

That is beyond awesome Marcia. That is the best thing I have heard today. I wish him well throughout all that he does now!!

 

[Jeanne]

That's awesome! Good for him, it's NEVER to late to learn!

 

[Kristi23]

That's so great!!!

 

[wings2fly]

That is wonderful new Marcia. I'm so happy for you... and him.
May he be blessed for his effort.

Carin

 

[techgirl]

congrats to Danny and to you. I wish him the best.

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

You know, I think we all come to our "crossroads" in life. Sometimes we make bad choices, but this obviously was Danny's "moment in the sun".

I'm totally in awe of the obvious fact that he, an adult man, swollowed his pride and actually went back to School. I can imagine that demanded about everything he had in him at the time. I feel your pride right with you, Marcia! Outstanding, and Good For You and Danny!!! :main_yes:

 

[nwheat]

That is wonderful news, Marcia!! Congratulations, Danny!!

 

[BEAR]

that is awesome for him!

My advice to him would have been to graduate and go to a reasonably priced college! $100,000 is more than enough to go to school and have the time of your life and still get your education!

I am sure you are very proud of him, as you should be.

 

[gothra]

That's wonderful, Marcia! I'm happy for you and your family!! Its VERY VERY hard to pick up again and have the persistence to finish off a diploma after he dropped school years ago, that's a huge effort!

 

[dprince]

What a heartwarming story, Marcia!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you, Glen, and Danny!! What a huge accomplishment. :main_thumbsup:

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

My advice to him would have been to graduate and go to a reasonably priced college! $100,000 is more than enough to go to school and have the time of your life and still get your education!

Well, that was OUR advise to him, but he didn't listen. Just like Julie getting pregnant and becoming a mother at age 16. She's 33 years old now, with a 2 teenagers raking her over the coals.

Every parent has hopes and dreams for their children, but they have their own minds and their own 'priorities' that many times do not include the guidance of their Dad and Mom. It's funny in a way, I guess... BOTH of our kids have told us that they regret not paying attention to what we tried to tell them when they were becoming adults. My daughter says, "Mom, the older I get, the smarter you become".

We, as parents, reach a point that all we can do is cross our fingers and hope & pray that the values we instilled in them as children stay intact when they come out the other side of adolescence.

I feel like a successful parent through the successes of my children! Glenn and I are closer now to our kids than we have ever been before, and they know in their hearts that the only thing we have ever wanted for them was to be happy, well-adjusted adults.

There were times that I had serious doubts about taking on the responsibility of a husband with two kids...never having any natural children of my own. At first, I cared for them because I cared for their Father. But, in time, after being the one that stayed home from work with them when they were sick, helping with homework, hugging them when they cried, going to their school's open house, celebrating their report cards, watching them do crazy dives at the pool, teaching them right from wrong, and everything else that comes with being a Mom.. I love them for WHO they are.

I wasn't there to hear their first words, or watch their first steps. I wasn't there for their first day of school, and I certainly wasn't in any of their early family photos! But, they are MY children and grandchildren, and I would fiercely protect them like a lioness if any harm came to them. Likewise, my heart aches with pride and joy as I see them become good, decent adults... with their values still intact.

 

[BEAR]

Well, that was OUR advise to him, but he didn't listen. Just like Julie getting pregnant and becoming a mother at age 16. She's 33 years old now, with a 2 teenagers raking her over the coals.

Every parent has hopes and dreams for their children, but they have their own minds and their own 'priorities' that many times do not include the guidance of their Dad and Mom. It's funny in a way, I guess... BOTH of our kids have told us that they regret not paying attention to what we tried to tell them when they were becoming adults. My daughter says, "Mom, the older I get, the smarter you become".

We, as parents, reach a point that all we can do is cross our fingers and hope & pray that the values we instilled in them as children stay intact when they come out the other side of adolescence.

I feel like a successful parent through the successes of my children! Glenn and I are closer now to our kids than we have ever been before, and they know in their hearts that the only thing we have ever wanted for them was to be happy, well-adjusted adults.

There were times that I had serious doubts about taking on the responsibility of a husband with two kids...never having any natural children of my own. At first, I cared for them because I cared for their Father. But, in time, after being the one that stayed home from work with them when they were sick, helping with homework, hugging them when they cried, going to their school's open house, celebrating their report cards, watching them do crazy dives at the pool, teaching them right from wrong, and everything else that comes with being a Mom.. I love them for WHO they are.

I wasn't there to hear their first words, or watch their first steps. I wasn't there for their first day of school, and I certainly wasn't in any of their early family photos! But, they are MY children and grandchildren, and I would fiercely protect them like a lioness if any harm came to them. Likewise, my heart aches with pride and joy as I see them become good, decent adults... with their values still intact.

You are absolutely right. He did something great, and clearly he did it for you and your husband, and more importantly himself.

You should be proud!

 

[Halley]

That is great news Marcia!!!!!!!!!!! I'm very happy for all three of you, and I hope, now he can go onto greater things!!!!!!!!!

 

[Franks_Geckos]

That's a great story and I am glad for him, for you, and your husband as well.

 

[yellermelon]

Thats really good Marcia! Im happy for you and your family. Its always good to hear when these things turn better, all to often the turn the other way.

 

[paulnj]

That's great Marcia!!!!

Sounds like he is now ready to "grow up":main_thumbsup: