Dear Graduating Class of 2020,

You’ve been jipped. No way to sugarcoat this one. You have spent years working hard toward graduation, whether it be from 8^th grade, high school, college, or another degree. All the course work, final exams, projects and planning to make sure you took just the right classes, was done with an end goal: graduation.

Once January came and the second semester began, I’m sure many of you could see the light at the end of the tunnel and all the celebratory milestones that come with the culmination of finishing this chapter in your life. Senior Day, Prom, special award ceremonies, final sport competitions, are among the list of memories you were looking forward to creating. Memories that would last a lifetime.

Then came March and with it the shutdown of every school in our country and many around the world. Along with school closings came the cancellation of every academic, sport and extra-curricular activity.

Parents, teachers, previous graduates; we felt your sadness and disappointment. Our hearts have mourned what has been taken and like I mention above, I feel you’ve been jipped and it’s not fair.

While you will still graduate and receive your diploma, the ceremonies and celebrations will look different than ever before.

This graduating class will forever be remembered as the class that faced COVID-19 with virtual graduations, parking lot graduations, car line graduations and so on. The schools have been creative, and the families have been incredibly supportive, but it’s not the same.

Yet, while activities and events have been taken there are some things that NO ONE can take from you, life skills. I encourage you to hold your head up high and when you are questioned in future college/job interviews you can be proud that you did it. You faced an unprecedented and unfathomable challenge and you MADE IT!

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020!

Over the past few months, you’ve been indoctrinated into the realities of life and all the ups and downs that occur. You have experienced challenges like never before and gained qualities and life skills that will carry you forward to a bright future.

These life skills will give you an advantage as you venture toward the next chapter of your life and with these attributes you will be equipped to face a very bright future of your choosing.

The degrees you receive this graduation TELLS the world you’re prepared conceptually, the skills you’ve gained during this pandemic SHOWS the world you have what it takes to build your future.

You have shown the whole world when faced with a challenge you CAN and WILL meet it and rise above it!

I encourage you to keep these qualities with you as you enter the next chapter of your life:

Perseverance

Knowing the end of your schooling was near, you had to finish projects and complete necessary schoolwork to receive your diploma. The persistence and tenacity you’ve demonstrated will serve you well as you enter the next phase of your life, albeit entering the work force, military, moving away to college or entering a new school. You have shown the world you will fight to get the job done and prevail.

Acceptance

When your world is turned upside down, it’s understandable some may want to give up. However, by accepting your unfortunate circumstances your given freedom to hope and envision a better future.

Dignity

So many of you, while disappointed, held your head up high and faced this life challenge displaying self-respect that shows the world you’re not afraid to face a difficult situation no matter the outcome.

Humility

It’s a big world out there with a lot of sorrow.  For some, missing a prom, last sporting event or graduating ceremony may not seem like a big deal, others know it is heartbreaking. Regardless, many of you have accepted gracefully that the world changed quickly, and you had to change with it. Some of you even stepped out of your comfort zone and chose to give back by working at food banks, holding a food drive, creating fundraisers to benefit a cause near and dear to your heart. This selfless attitude will allow you to create a more cohesive environment as you become employed or start college or high school.

Innovative

Never in history has a graduating class been so innovative. Thanks to technology this graduating class didn’t skip a beat and used new and creative methods of learning. More than ever we need innovative thinkers to lead us all toward a brighter future.

Trailblazer

During this pandemic, the graduating class of 2020 have turned their dreams into reality cutting through barriers and obstacles with faith and determination. Keep being the trailblazers we need to take risks and create a better future for our world.

It’s natural as generations age for the older generation to wonder about the young coming up the pipeline. Will they be able to cope with the difficulties and challenges of life? Will they possess the knowledge, heart, and stamina to create a better world for the generation after them?

After witnessing the ability of our younger generation, especially the graduating class of 2020, to adapt seamlessly and effectively during this pandemic, I will wonder no more. I feel more confident today than ever our world is headed in the right direction led by the Class of 2020!

Congratulations!

Many Blessings,

Pam

Happy Mother’s Day

 

Every year on the second Sunday in May we celebrate mothers around the world. This Sunday, the celebration will be more special than ever before. For some, it may be the first time you have been able to see your mother in a long while.

Various stay at home orders around our country have prohibited large gatherings and recommended grandparents take extra precautions.

As these orders get lifted, some of us will be able to reunite with our moms sooner rather than later.

For those who can’t be with their mother’s I hope you will be able to connect through Zoom, FaceTime or another format and I know you will be desperately wishing you could share a hug.

Sadly, for some, this may be the first Mother’s Day without your mom, and your heart is grieving. I can only hope and pray that if your mother has already passed on you have many wonderful memories to draw from.

Each year I want to acknowledge the mothers who have lost a child. The bond between a mother and child is one of the strongest I’ve ever experienced. Facing a Mother’s Day without your child is heartbreaking and unfathomable. You are a true warrior. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.

Message is the same, delivery may be different

While our circumstances vary, nothing will stop us from letting our moms know how much we love them. Whether it’s in person, over the phone or internet, or written in a note that we wish we could give to our moms who have passed, we can all proclaim:

I Love You Mom!

I appreciate all you have done for me throughout my life!

I am a better person because of you!

Thank you, Mom, for everything!

I wanted nothing more than to have kids and create a family as I was growing up. My own mother made it look so easy. Without a doubt we knew she loved all her kids and we knew she always would. No one went to bat for us or stood by our sides like our mom!

I’m so grateful I had my mother by my side to teach me and prepare me for my greatest role in life: motherhood.

By showering me with unconditional love, my mother taught me how to love my children unconditionally.

By showing compassion when I was sad or hurt, I learned how to be compassionate to others.

In giving she taught me how to give. And there were many times I know she sacrificed or did without so she could give more to her children.

She has been and always will be the biggest advocate for any of her children. She will sing our praises loudly and try to shield us from pain- no matter how old we are!

Motherhood during COVID-19

Motherhood is trying and exhausting under the best of circumstances. But when COVID-19 hit and closed businesses, schools, health clubs, etc., the tower of hats a mom wears grew larger. School closings turned mothers (and fathers) into teachers and guidance counselors. Having the whole family home all day meant more meals to make, more dishes to clean and lots of laundry.

On top of this, many moms are working remotely from home while trying to juggle the increased demands of the family.

Motherhood has its ups and downs when everything is going well. But what happens when your world is turned upside down? It can turn motherhood into a chore.

I’ve had my world turned upside down once before when my husband, Larry, died.

I had no clue how I was going to move forward. Thankfully, I had the gifts I learned from my mother. These gifts never go away, but sometimes they get tucked away until they are needed once more.

That time is now.

I know the best I can do for my kids right now is to love them, unconditionally, even when I want to pull my hair out because we are starting to get on each other’s nerves! I have reminded myself to be a little more compassionate towards my kids because I know that life changed dramatically for them as well. By giving an ear to listen, a hearty meal (which seem endless) to keep the energy levels up and just simply being available to my kids I hope I’ve provided a sense of security that I always had growing up.

This year moms around the globe have risen to meet the challenges presented during these unusual times. And for that, I say to all the moms out there, YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!

Stand tall, be proud, MOM, you deserve praise!

I won’t do it often, but this year I will pat myself on the back and say, “You did it! You made it through a quarantine and the family is stronger for it.”

And I encourage all you moms to do the same. Pat yourselves on the back, be proud you are MOM, you deserve it!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my mother and ALL the moms out there a VERY Happy Mother’s Day.

Many Blessings,

Pam