By KATHY GIBBONS
Local Columnist
August 15, 2009 07:50 pm I knew I was in trouble when I couldn't even make it through the greeting card aisle. It was a week before my son's wedding, and I'd gone to buy a card. Wanting it to be just right, I read the verses in first one, then another. Before I knew it, I was dabbing tears and looking around, relieved to see I was alone. I finally chose one just to stop the torture. You know your kids are probably going to get married. When they find someone you are certain in your heart is a perfect match, you know it all the more -- and that was the case here. They met at college five years ago, the first week of her freshman year. With her at his side, he grew up and into a man who knew where he was going and what he wanted -- and that most certainly included her. They weren't going to get married for another year, but decided two months ago that there was no reason to wait. In short order, a small family ceremony was arranged and it was off to the mountains in New York for the fairy tale wedding she had always pictured. It's one thing to know this is part of the natural progression of things and another to live it. It's a pivotal moment. Life literally flashes before your eyes and you ask yourself where the 25 years went between the day he was born and the day you find yourself watching him standing next to a minister, waiting with anticipation for his bride to arrive on her parents' arms. It's also a moment of redemption. Parenthood is such a jumble of ups and downs. Someone told me once that "you're only as happy as your unhappiest child" and that is so true. When they suffer, you do. You can't stop them from making mistakes, but when they do, and have to face tough consequences, you feel it, too. So it is fulfilling on a level you hadn't anticipated to see them arrive at a point where they are on the other side of most of that. After the ceremony, he seemed taller, his arm around his new wife more protective. Stronger together. They probably don't even realize the full potential of that yet. But they will. Later, going through pictures and getting teary-eyed all over again, I suddenly had a sinking feeling. Uh-oh, I thought, looking at my daughter-in-law's shining eyes, now there is another one to worry about. It's not that I didn't worry about her before, but now it's official. She is part of mine, as he is of her family. It's primal. That's life, though. People loving each other. Relationships. Glowing couples. Growing families. And aren't we lucky for all of it? Kathy Gibbons can at gibbonskath@yahoo.com. For more of Kathy's columns, log on to record-eagle.com/kathygibbons.
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Kathy Gibbons