Don't worry...I did not embarrass this young man on his first day of school by making him pose for photo ops in front of his fellow students...we went up early Friday morning when no one was around! 
(Also a good time to take a photo of the front entrance of the school.) There is no doubt in my mind that this locker will look like this for the entire year...Matt is a neat freak, and he was very happy to go up and get it all in place before the start of school today...that's how I got my photos!
While most people are sending their child off to school for the first time when the child is five, today was Matt's first day in a "building school," at age 15. 
It was fairly traumatic for me...watching him go through the doors to Guerin, but I didn't let on in the least. Not a tear in sight...until I drove down the drive and away, that is. Of course, I am happy for him as he loved homeschooling, but I know he will love this also as he is growing up and moving on in his life, as it should be. We had a really good run here at home and he said as much last night: how much he loved it all and would not trade it for anything or done anything differently. He said he would miss his homeschooling friends and activities, but some of them will be at Guerin with him, so it will seem familiar and fun in that regard. It feels right and good so far...he even drove Blue Bernice to school this morning, very confident in both that and the day/year ahead. Incredibly nice to see and feel a part of that. As I pulled out of the school drive and headed home, I realized just how much I am going to be missing him being around each day...he and I have always motored about together with ease. It will, however, be fun to see how he now goes out and starts to make his own world for himself. I have no doubt he is up to the challenge and that he will handle it all beautifully with his faith first and foremost. Still, I am very aware today of parting with familiar ways...change is never easy for me and I like to hold on to whatever I can for as long as I can as I try to find new places for old ways and make old places happy with new ways.
It was fairly traumatic for me...watching him go through the doors to Guerin, but I didn't let on in the least. Not a tear in sight...until I drove down the drive and away, that is. Of course, I am happy for him as he loved homeschooling, but I know he will love this also as he is growing up and moving on in his life, as it should be. We had a really good run here at home and he said as much last night: how much he loved it all and would not trade it for anything or done anything differently. He said he would miss his homeschooling friends and activities, but some of them will be at Guerin with him, so it will seem familiar and fun in that regard. It feels right and good so far...he even drove Blue Bernice to school this morning, very confident in both that and the day/year ahead. Incredibly nice to see and feel a part of that. As I pulled out of the school drive and headed home, I realized just how much I am going to be missing him being around each day...he and I have always motored about together with ease. It will, however, be fun to see how he now goes out and starts to make his own world for himself. I have no doubt he is up to the challenge and that he will handle it all beautifully with his faith first and foremost. Still, I am very aware today of parting with familiar ways...change is never easy for me and I like to hold on to whatever I can for as long as I can as I try to find new places for old ways and make old places happy with new ways.
And, where is said student this evening? After a good day at Guerin, seeing old friends and meeting new ones, an hour's worth of homework after school, and no swim practice until next week...is he home resting? No, he is not. His ICHSA/FACES homeschool friends called to invite him to the Indianapolis Indians game this evening and he was out the door by 5:15 so we could meet Mark at the game as he was so happy that the homeschooling crowd was not going to forget about him now that he is going to Guerin. No moss grows under that boy's feet. I think we will both do just fine.