It filled me with joy to be there for my youngest son’s graduation the other day. I had such pride, such a feeling of accomplishment for him that I had to share it with everyone. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about any sort of academic graduation. I’m not really a fan of the whole Pomp and Circumstance of the end of pre-school. Personally think that no one should really be wearing a mortarboard cap until they’ve finished high school (or as daily garb for the hipster elite). What I’m referring to are the simple, everyday graduations that take place where my kids’ advancements make the lives of my wife and I just one billionth of a degree easier.
On this occasion it came with the realization that we can actually share a hotel room with our kids and it not turn into a miserably sleepless slumber party. My wife surprised me with an excellent birthday trip down to 
San Diego and a night in a very nice hotel. Every parent knows that doing something like this can be a tremendous hassle when young kids are involved. You’d have to get a babysitter for the night, which will cost about the same as another hotel room if it’s not a willing family member. Normally if our kids have any hint of another living being in the room with them they think it means that entertainment and food should be provided. I imagine in their head they’re thinking, “Mom and Dad are in the room?? Holy Guacamole!!! This is AMAZING!!! They must really REALLY want to play right now since they can’t wait until morning.”
This trip. Nothing like that happened! We put them to bed a little bit past their normal bedtime and they actually slept. We were amazed. We were able to sit on the balcony, have a nice dinner together and enjoy some birthday Champagne. Our kids had leveled up.
Now I know that it’s just normal childhood advancement, but when I suddenly realize that one more thing is checked off our list, it’s like they have passed an unwritten milestone. I want to have a little ceremony. Only instead of them walking up the aisle, it’s my wife and I accepting the diploma for succeeding as a parent to a minor degree. Other moments that deserved diplomas in my eyes are:
- Joseph knows which shoes go on which feet (9 times out of 10)
- Kayleigh can pour her own milk/ get her own water
- Joseph can put on a shirt without getting stuck
- Joseph can generally unstick himself from most situations now (see link here if you’re unfamiliar with his situation)
- They both can turn on Netflix and watch a show if they are up earlier than we are on the weekends (that’s a nice one)
- Kayleigh can brush her own teeth
- Both are potty trained (humungous relief, although both apparently upgraded to the elite wiping package, which keeps there hands clean and has me cleaning multiple bottoms per day)
Sometimes it’s a little sad when they change or grow out of something. Joseph used to say “Wuv Why” instead of “I Love You” which we didn’t want him to grow out of. One day, however it stopped and that bummed me out. But for the most part, these little changes are fantastic.
I really can’t believe that I’m so very happy that these seemingly insignificant, everyday tasks aren’t mine anymore. It’s not like I even took particular notice of them when I had to do it, but now that they’re gone, those reclaimed moments of my life are glorious.