235 Days Later- Mom’s Point of View

On October 9, 2019, I wrote a blog post titled 235 Days. In a nutshell, it was about the count down to my oldest son’s graduation day. Today is the 235th day. Today my son ends one journey and embarks on a new one.

1st day of Kindergarten

Two hundred thirty-five days ago, we had a vision of what senior year would be like. First, there were the college visits and eagerly awaiting for the acceptance letters to come in the mail. The new year arrived, and 2020 was full of excitement and promise. Robbie applied and was accepted to all six schools. He narrowed it down to three and was looking forward to the accepted student days at each one. Winter was winding down, and there were two months of school left. There were so many things to look forward to, prom, senior skip day, the final bell, and all the senior events leading up to the big one, graduation.

Little did we know that with 80 days left until graduation, March 12, 2020, would be the last day Robbie would step into the high school. The place he had called home for four years would be no more. Sure, like everyone else, we thought this would blow over. The school was closed for deep cleaning. Surely we would be back to business as usual soon enough. The kids were told this was NOT a vacation. This was not the time to hang with friends. They were to stay home and socially distance themselves. If they did, they would go back to school. Okay, breathe, we got this.

However, our numbers began to climb and to be safe, the superintendent shut down the school until April. E-learning was put into place, and the kids were now learning from home. It was a whole new world for all of us.

It was at this point; I began to get nervous. The accepted student days were canceled and held virtually. College students were being sent home for the remainder of the semester. Massachusetts cases of COVID-19 were climbing at an alarming rate. We were predicted to go through a surge sometime in late April. Late April?? The kids were supposed to go back to school. It was then I started to see my son’s senior year disappear before my eyes. Sure enough, the Governor put a stay at home order in place until May 4th. May 4th??? The seniors finish classes mid-May! It was not looking promising. By April 22nd, 2020, it was a done deal.

Norwood Public School Buildings Closed For the Rest of the 2019-2020 Academic School Year

Per the order of Governor Charlie Baker, all Massachusetts schools will be closed for the rest of the academic school year.  Remote learning will continue in the Norwood Public Schools.  

All that he had and let’s face it, I had been looking forward to, was gone. There would be no prom, senior skip day, elementary school walk, or senior breakfast. They would not hear the final bell in the school that they loved. It was heartbreaking. Though, it turns out it was more heartbreaking for me than him.

No sooner was it announced that senior events canceled, our town kicked it into high gear. First, the wonderful staff at the high school delivered lawn signs. A Facebook page was created called Adopt a Norwood Senior. Families adopted other kids and spent the month delivering gifts to their homes. Their senior photos were featured on a jumbotron and shown for the world to see. Finally, graduation day arrived, and it was better than we could have imagined. We had a police escort to the high school where every teacher lined up to wave and say goodbye. There were decorations all around the school. Each student was announced, received their diploma, and took their photo in front of the “school on the hill.” It was a fantastic day.

Shirt for our seniors.
Yard sign dropped off by the PTO.
Finishing his senior year from home.
Gift from one of the familes that adopted him.
More gifts.
Such cute gifts!
Signs around town.
He did it!!

Though all of these things mentioned above contributed to a beautiful day, what really made it special was my son.

Since day one of this pandemic, he never complained about what he was missing out on. Sure, he would have loved to skip the school work, but he knew it had to be done. He works part-time at a supermarket, and as his mother, I was not thrilled he was spending 20-30 hours a week there. He took his job as an essential worker seriously and went to work each day.

Do you think deciding which college to attend is easy on a good day? How about trying to decide which college to attend during a pandemic, where all accepted student days were virtual. Yet, that did not stop him. He weighed his options, had some good discussions, and made his choice. We could not be happier.

As I sit here thinking about the last couple of months, I am no longer dwelling on what he lost, but what he has reminded me. Life moves on. We need to roll with the punches and make the most of a crappy situation. Do our part to make this a better place. Our country is in turmoil, and these young adults are our future.

Though I may not be quite ready to share him with the world, in a few short months it will be time. Until then, I plan on enjoying every last moment with him.

Robert William Jandrue- Go change the world.

About The Author

Heather

44 COMMENTS

  1. Yvette | 8th Jun 20

    Love this. I love that you made it special for him and meaningful. So inspiring!

  2. Danielle Ardizzone | 8th Jun 20

    What a great story! I’m sorry he wasn’t able to experience the typical rite of passage stuff, but it sounds like he made the best of it. Congratulations and good luck to him!

  3. Douglas Jasper | 8th Jun 20

    I Love the grad photo. That will always be a significant memory. We actually today got word from my son’s school that they will be going back at the start of the next school year(September 8th). He is excited that he has that to look forward to with so many things cancelled this summer.

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      I hope my kids will be able to go back. There is still so much unknown here.

  4. Holly | 8th Jun 20

    Congratulations to you both for ma6it to this special day! You are an amazing parent for making it so special! Lo e the pictures @

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      Thanks so much. He makes it easy for me.

  5. Tiffany | 8th Jun 20

    Well written! From a fellow senior mom, this year had certainly been the exact opposite of what we expected. My son’s last day of school was Friday, March 13th. Yikes. But while this wasn’t what we expected this year, it has certainly been unforgettable! Good luck in college!

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      Thank you and good luck to your son as well.

  6. Lisa Manderino | 8th Jun 20

    This has been such a hard year for the seniors! College will be so much fun so something to look forward to helps!

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      It sure does. The future looks bright.

  7. Barbarar | 8th Jun 20

    My niece is going through the same situation for her senior year! Well handled MOM! Great job!

  8. Linda Egeler | 9th Jun 20

    I loved reading this post. I have been feeling so badly for this year’s graduates, and you’ve really shown how to grow and move past the disappointment. Adopt a Norwood Senior: what a simply awesome thing to do! I wish my town had been able t do this for our graduating seniors.

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      It was a fabulous idea. We had a lot of fun doing it.

  9. Leeandra | 9th Jun 20

    It’s great that he had a positive attitude and completed everything needed to graduate. Congrats!

  10. Kendra | 9th Jun 20

    What a story these kids will have to tell years down the road! I love how people got creative and still made this celebratory time special for each of them!

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      It is certainly one they will never forget!

  11. Debbie | 9th Jun 20

    He sounds like an exceptional young guy. I’m glad that the town came together and made their senior year as special as it ended up being. Congrats to him and good job Mom!

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      Thank you. We think he is pretty special. 🙂

  12. Alice | 9th Jun 20

    Congrats to the graduate!!! That is a great attitude to make the bst of things.

  13. Sandi | 9th Jun 20

    Lovely tribute. SNHU is a great school. Sounds like he will do well.

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      Thank you. We are excited to see what the future holds for him.

  14. Stacey Billingsley | 9th Jun 20

    Congrats to your son! As I high school teacher, I feel all of this. It has definitely been a year to remember. My school year is technically wrapped up, but I still have two students competing in the virtual national speech tournament this week and next. Best wishes to you and your son!

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      Thanks so much. It certainly is a year to remember. I just pray school can start come fall.

  15. Sara | 10th Jun 20

    What a memorable graduation story! I love seeing all the ways that people have gone out of their way to try to make this year special for all the graduates.

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      Our town really did an amazing job!

  16. Cathy | 10th Jun 20

    Sounds like a difficult couple of months, but I’m glad it worked out! I know how it feels to have a graduate. A little happy and a little sad.. Congrats!

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      Thank you. It was bittersweet.

  17. Heather | 10th Jun 20

    What a crazy year we have had! Good for him rolling with the punches and making the best of this time.

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      Yes, we are so proud of him.

  18. Angela | 11th Jun 20

    Oh so bittersweet – I really feel for the high school seniors. Still take credit for all the hard work and congrats!

  19. Suzan | It's My Sustainable Life | 11th Jun 20

    It may look different, but the sentiments remain. Congrats to you and your son & so happy you made lemonade out of lemons!

  20. Eva Keller | 11th Jun 20

    I know a lot of kids and parents struggled with this, but this would have been a dream senior year for me. I always wanted to do online school and my parents wouldn’t let me. I also prefer being at home and doing things at my own pace, so once I was in college I took summer classes online and did my entire Master’s Degree online and it was great. I’m sure not many others feel the same way, but a select few have probably really enjoyed it.

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      I am sure some did, but the schools were not set up well for it. This pandemic came out of nowhere, so it was a struggle.

  21. kmf | 13th Jun 20

    Love this! It’s so authentic and really captures the emotions so many senior moms were/are feeling. My son is technically a 2020 college grad but he finished classes in December. And because of that he wasn’t planning to attend the graduation events. So our household did not experience any emotional loss. I read once that everything is a gift even when it doesn’t feel like it at the time. It sounds like your son is very grounded and committed and will grow from this experience. Excited to see where his path leads.

    • Heather | 16th Jun 20

      Congrats to your son. How exciting. What is he doing now?

  22. Cindy | 15th Jun 20

    You have an amazing son! Congrats to him as a high school graduate. I love his positive attitude and adaptability. Those traits will take him far in life.

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *