You may or may not know this but I am a mom to a 19 year old.  Yes.  NINETEEN.  My standard response to people’s disbelief about how I could POSSIBLY have a 19 year old is :  yes, I had him when I was 6!  ::grin::  But none-the-less, he is 19, half way to 20 and I can’t believe it.

My son is either the luckiest boy in the world to have a mother like me — or the most long-suffering.  Some days I think he wouldn’t be able to tell you either — but the best part about our relationship is that we ARE.  We are close.  We are friends.  We support and love each other.

We took a trip together recently and my son shook his head “no” at a man who was, in my son’s opinion, “checking me out”.  ::laughing::  How can you NOT love this kid?  This is the look I imagine he gave:

Matt has wanted to be in Emergency Services since he was two years old.  And has never waivered.  Yesterday he found out he was accepted into the Paramedic Program — something he’s been planning for and working towards for years. He’s volunteered as a firefighter and worked as an EMT — long hours and helping people over and over again.

I took this photo of him at Family Day during his firefighter training program (and my heart gives a little thump when I look at this…):

Yesterday he got the call.  Accepted!

He called me, his voice was shaking.  He said.  Mom, I’m freaking out!  I couldn’t figure out who to tell first!

I said:  Well, OBviously you call ME first.

He said:  Mom, I’m talking to you first — even BEFORE I posted it on Facebook!!

::laughing and shaking head::

Later that night he was sitting next to me on the couch both of us on computers (yeah, dorks, I know) and this popped up on facebook (yes, he occaissionally calls me “Swales” and I think it’s funny!):

Dear Swales,

You are awesome.

Sincerely,

Your Son (who is achieving his dreams with the help of your awesomeness [aka your parenting!])

This is what I typed back (sitting next to him on the couch):

Dear Metzler… I am so very very proud of you. YOU deserve happiness and much success. And I am so inspired by watching you setting your mind to do something and then DOING IT. YOU ROCK. Sincerely, Your Mom (who is always behind you no matter what)

I know this is probably too much information — but my heart is full today.  You see, my son lost his dad, suddenly, three months ago, and it’s been hard on everyone.  I watched my son handle it with grace and sadness and respect — surrounded by his friends, co-workers and family.  He is SO amazing.  He is just one of those guys who will help you no matter what.  He’s a great listener, and has this crazy sense of humor!  So watching him, despite EVERYTHING going on, go after something, figure out how to do it and the ACHIEVE it.

Well.  I don’t know what the right words are to tell you how I feel about it.

I just wanted to talk about him.