University Bound

My son received his first early offer of admission last night. This one came from the University of Waterloo.

I am so very proud of my son. He is a young man with strong character and well developed values. And the first of what I am sure will be several offers for University assures him of choice and a promising future.

This will be another difficult transition for me. No one warned me about the emptiness that occurs when your child leaves home. I miss my daughter and not a day goes by where I am not thinking about her. Soon, I will have the same sense of separation as my son makes his own way in life.

I am so thankful that I was part of their lives as they grew up. I was able to hold work in balance and I was able to be a father to my children. And obviously I will continue to be their Dad for the rest of my life.

Time does pass quickly and career seems less meaningful in the grand scheme of things.

Yesterday, when I came home, my nine-year old son greeted me as I walked into the house. I looked down to take my shoes off and when I looked back up, my youngest son had left and my oldest son was standing in his place. In an instant, a nine-year old became eighteen. I was struck by how quickly the last few years had passed.

My oldest son was everything a father could hope for. And he always will be.