Some background you should know...I've caught hell from my family for how I've raised Jake since he was born. From not vaccinating (he is now, so spare me the silly emails), to unschooling and then homeschooling, to teaching him to not base his choice of who he loves on a set of genitalia, but rather on a person who treats him like he's the best thing ever and who makes him laugh, feel special and feel safe and who inspires him to feel the same....yeah, I've caught a lot of flack. But, the fact is, I knew early on he was different. No, not brighter or "gifted", I've never been one of *those moms because every kid is bright or gifted in their own way...no, I've just chosen to embrace his oddities instead of trying to pretend they don't exist. He's 20 now, and I'd not change a bit of that. I won't ever have a kid with some big title or retirement plan, but I've got a kid who knows he's free to dream as long as he works hard to make those dreams real and you know what? I'm happy with that.
Tonight, this morning, whatever you want to call it, at this very moment, Jake is at the Vampire Ball, performing his original music. He's been swarmed by fans (lol, albeit it probably less than 100), had many photos taken and is signing autographs. He's living his dream, even in small form. Would I love him to go to college or do something to further his education someday? Of course I would, but not now. Not at the sacrifice of what he's having tonight. There's time for that later but this? Won't wait. How many of us can really, honestly, say we've lived the dream we had at his age? I can't. My parents insisted I be more practical and I gave up my dreams but swore to myself I'd never do that to my kids. "They" say we always want better for our kids than we had and I do...I want him to have nights like tonight and am so very, very proud of him that he's worked hard enough to have even this much.
Someday, when he's older and has more responsibilities in life, I hope he can look back on tonight and feel good about himself. I hope he can not have resentment toward me or what he feels he could have been, had he just had the support. I hope the rest of our family can someday, somehow, realize that for *him, I'm doing the right thing in not forcing college or (God help me, *never) the military on him. I want him more for Jake; I want him to have no regrets. I want him to live his dream.
Lol, he looks scary tonight, hmmm? This is not the kid in blue velour pajama pants I usually have running around the house drinking apple cider vinegar in apple juice because he's read it's healthy, playing with the cats and watching Dancing With The Stars with me (he's rooting for David Arquette)...looks can certainly be deceiving, can't they? Yet, it is the same person. I hope people read this, see him, and realize that.
I'm so, so proud of him right now. Always. And I have no regrets about how I've raised him, even if it's hasn't been "normal" and even if he's not what's considered to be "normal". More power to us both for flipping off "normal" and being *real. And mostly, let's just hope he keeps an eye on his drinks tonight. Argh!
** Edited this morning to add: Welllllp, he learned a harsh lesson about following dreams last night. After all that, the venue had scheduling issues and several performers, Jake being one, didn't get to perform. He's so upset and I am for him, but it's still a good lesson. He might even appreciate what he *did get to experience in, oh, 20 years. ;-) **
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2 comments:
I am sorry Jake didn't get to perform, but when he calms down I bet he will say he had fun anyway.
As far as normal....what the hell is that! It sounds like he had a great childhood with a very cool mom!
Lisa,
I think the way you are raising Jake is just fine. I personally raise my children the same way. I want them to live happy and fulfilled lives!
I've been an artist since I was a child, and my parents hated it. "Art doesn't make money until the artist is dead." My dad would say. Instead, thanks to good grades in science, they tried to push me into pharmacy school. I have always been opposed to taking pills, vaccinations etc.., at least 90% of the time. I had no desire to work with them or give them out to other people, I would feel like I was poisoning them.
Welp, I went through 3 years of school, and hated every minute of it. The more I learned about medications and how much damage they do, how much testing isn't done,and how most of the meds didn't actually fix anything, I was done. I dropped out and put in to go to an art college 2 states away. My parents stopped talking to me. It didn't matter that I graduated and got a job I loved, or that I was happy. I wasn't making 80k a year. I was and still am a waste of breath in their eyes.
To not have your parents love you for WHO YOU ARE, is one of the most painful things anyone can go through.
~Batman (I forgot my other Google account log in)
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