Last week we drove to Waco and picked up our son, Zack, from college.
Yep.
He just finished his first year of school.
We loaded the boxes in the car in the pouring rain and packed the few pieces of furniture that he had left and waved goodbye to his dorm room and headed home for the summer.
Another chapter is done.
Another chapter is finished. And as we stood there in the dormitory parking lot and I watched the excitement on his face and the raindrops dripping off the brim of his hat and his barely contained energy just waiting to take on the world, a little piece of my heart sobbed.
I’m not sure when or where or how it happened, but a man now stood tall and proud and strong where a twinkling-eyed boy once was.
And so today, to celebrate this chick that just returned (albeit so briefly) to the nest, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite stories of growing up.
It’s all about confidence and belief in yourself…
….and the amazing power of a really good hair flip.
This bedroom is where all the stinky socks and stinky shoes in our house live along with mud tracks and basketball shoes and drum sets and algebra books and track uniforms and baseballs.
And plenty of testosterone.
*sigh*
It’s a whole other world.
When they were younger, Zack, one of the stinky sock boys came home from middle school one day with a disgruntled look on his face.
As he walked into the room, he didn’t really didn’t say anything. Instead, there was a lot of consternation and sighing and eye rolling and hair flipping for dramatic effect. I think he was waiting for someone to ask him what all the angst was all about.
I said nothing.
Instead, I got my popcorn and sat and waited patiently for the drama to unfold.
Finally, he turned to me with a woebegone expression on his face….
….and a flip of his hair.
“Mom….you are never going to believe it. This girl….ummm….she stopped me by the lockers and told me that she liked me.”
I paused.
“Really?” I said. “A girl told you that she liked you?” I questioned with an attempt at complete nonchalance. I find that in these types of situations—nonchalance is the best approach for getting the most information possible.
“She stopped you by the lockers? What did you say to her?”
He stared at me in disbelief.
“Are you serious? I didn’t say anything. What do I say to something like that? I just turned and walked away.”
“Hmmm” I said with another nonchalant shrug. “Probably a wise decision.”
He nodded in agreement.
Then he flipped his hair again and continued on with his tale of trial and tribulation.
“But you haven’t even heard the worst part yet,” he snorted.
“There’s more?” I asked patiently. “What could be worse than a girl telling you that she liked you by the lockers?”
He flipped his hair again and patted it back into place with an air of satisfaction and slowly craned his neck to catch a glimpse of his flipped hair in the window.
I waited patiently for the hair flipping to stop.
“What happened next?” I asked.
He paused and announced, “And then? You are NOT GOING TO BELIEVE IT. When I was about to get on the bus one of her best friends told me that she liked me, too.” And with that dramatic pronouncement, he flopped down on the couch in despair holding his head in his hands.
Mournfully he looked up at me with all the angst of a stinky sock boy and let out a sigh.
“Mom….I’ve got problems.”
He paused, then flipped his hair once more and continued, “Lately….I really think….
…..that this hair is lethal.”
*sigh*
Our construction budget increased that middle school year.
We had to enlarge all the door frames so his stinky socks and hair flipping ego could fit through. 🙂
PS I found this picture of Zack right about the hair flipping stage.
Here he is now.
A little older with a little less hair to flip. 🙂
PPS You can see all the sources for this room on my Shop My House page.
When my oldest son was in college, he called me with a similar problem. He had about three girls interested in him. After telling me all about it, he asked me to fix it for him. At that point, I kindly let him know that there wasn't much I could do and reassured him that he would be fine on his own. He chose one and now they have five beautiful children, one dog, and a whole lot of drama of their own!
This is a classic Karianne story! Love it! ;)
Love it
I have been waiting for my book I was supposed to get one last year but never did, maybe its because I'm in Canada??
That is an adorable story for Moms of Boys! Thank you for sharing your precious moments with us!💙
Well I can see why the girls like him - such a handsome guy! Congrats on one year of college in the books.
First of all, he's adorable! Second, I wish my boys would tell me things like that. They are 15 and almost 13 and for a very short period of time, I would hear those type of stories. Now, for some reason they won't tell me who likes them or who they like. Why do they have to grow up so fast? Enjoy every moment of having him home for the summer! Shelley
Karianne is absolutely correct. I have four sons and get very little information, but when I do get a nugget, I try to be as nonchalant as I can pretend. The oldest has recently confided in me and they have all witnessed that I was not quite as cringey as expected, so hopefully they will remember this in the future.
He is a little cutie that has grown into a nice young man. Love this cute story. I have two sons they are grown men now but i can remember lots of "serious" talks.
Congrats on getting the first year down. Loved the story and to believe he made it out of high school being liked by a few girls..what's a boy to do?!..Lol..Looks like he's doing great! Good job mom! I'd be proud:0)
What a cutie! Love this story and the room!! xoxo
What a handsome young man! I know you're proud of him.
HANDSOME YOUNG MAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well darn, if I was (or is that “were”) his age, I just might tell that handsome young man the same. Love your sweet story. My son never told me those things, but the girls told me they liked him.
Sigh! And mine graduates high school next week. Checking off the boxes!
This is a face! My boys are in between Zach’s age. My younger son graduates on Sunday. It’s all about the hair flip this spring! Congratulations on year 1. Laura in CO
Suppose to read, “ that face!”
Oh, Lordy, that made giggle. Sometimes those oh-so-serious adolescent observations that offer a tiny glimpse into their world are just what you need to hear to keep everything in perspective. I remember liking boys because they had great hair (among other qualities), but it probably started with a hair-flip.
Well, he DOES have good hair! LOLOL!! Love this story! Congrats on finishing year one of college! (yes, I congratulate the parents, especially when it's just year one of SO MANY packing-up-and-moving-home events!) Enjoy having your nest full for the summer!
He is a very handsome young man and I'm sure ya'll have raised him to be a fine gentleman and that is why all the young ladies will continue adore him!
Goodness. You had me at the dorm pickup. I so remember those. But the hair flip. Memorable moments of middle school with boys. I just left a middle school grand in Boise. The struggles. The things that produce hair flips and eye rolls and concern. Oh, my. But treasuring those moments—from hair flips to college days—hold dearly, sweet friend.❤️
If my stars, that's the cutest story! Hold on to each moment, they ship so quickly away. BTW, really great Mommy skills when he was sharing his angst!
LOL autocorrect really got me in the above comments! Honest and a better speller than that!
Well, he's stinkin' adorable, so I'm sure there are lots of female hearts that go pitter-patter. What a fun story. And you are right ... the more nonchalant you are, the more info they spill (although I find that my girl is more likely to tell me juicy details like that than my son is).
Thanks for the morning laugh and cry!!!!!!!!!!!!!He is adorable, especially those twinkly eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It is so great that you write these stories so that you will always have a way to remember these times!!!!!!!
That must feel amazing having him home ❤️ Enjoy !
I love this story! My two oldest are boys 16 and 14...it is so much fun! With a large family people always used to warn us about the teenage years..."oh just wait until they are teenagers", people would say ominously. The truth is, it's fun! Stinky socks and all! Sure there are new challenges, but as you keep listening to their stories and laughing at their jokes, you find a new level to the relationship and it is so good! Thank you for sharing optimism about the teen years!
Boys are beautiful!
Handsome! Beautiful smile. Can I use jute rugs hear round???????
Nan, Yes! Of course you can! Jute rugs work with any style, too! Happy day friend! karianne
Oh he sure is handsome, love that story. I have two grown sons and four grown in their twenties grandsons. They are the best things in life, just adore those boys. Have two granddaughters as well which hold a special heart corner that is different from theboys.. Love to sit and hear their stories. Just enjoy them as the time is fleeting.
Oh my gosh! KariAnne, I remember the hair flipping stage and the comment about his hair being lethal. I'm about to fall out of my chair. But this good looking man, where did he come from? You've only been gone what, two years? No traces of that hair-flipping boy left. Bless your heart!
❤️
Such a handsome young man, he's in serious trouble, and Mom........you're going to be jealous! Good luck!
OH my word ! He is so handsome ! And I can tell from the smile he has a sweet heart, and to top it off , really good hair. I bet many girls like him now =)
I love your stories! I can so relate. Makes a little tear well up in my eyes remembering my own little boys who now stand so tall. Your son is darling. I'm sure he has a lot of girlies liking him. And I'll bet he feels a little different about that these days!
Ain't he cute?!?!?! (And manly--Yes!!!)
He's cute! Seems as if a lot more than two girls will be saying they like him.
Oh he just so cute! What a great smile - sure gets that from his nonchalant mamma. : - ) My niece just finished her first year of college - we have many similarities with ages with my nieces and your children about the same ages - which is fun cuz then I can share. My two girls are old now, which makes me old as Moses, but hey, who is counting, right? Anyway, Zack is a doll and the Bieber years were certainly hair flipping days to be sure. ♥ (On that note I will say my nephew (bro of afore mentioned niece) did the Beebs style and once everyone was doing it he decided to just let it grow - and holy moley it grew really long and amazing - thick gorgeous auburn hair - got voted best hair senior year, haha - and just before he graduated and was interviewing for his dream job he cut it nice and tidy. His parents were elated - and he got the job of his dreams! So hair, the power of hair is not to be under estimated. Have a great weekend. Hugs.
What a wonderful story!! Made me laugh and what we thought back in our school days as drama! Have a great weekend and so glad your son is back for a while.
Handsome young man. I'm sure he's over his angst about girls nowadays. Sweet story.
Well yes, very cute. He looks to be a kind person and that is everything...loving great parents and family.
Love the stories you share. Thank you!!! My son does NOT have the hair your son does, but this momma loves his thin hair all the same....tell Zach that he is SO LUCKY with that hair!!! :)
He's such a handsome young man! I can hear the young ladies sighing right now! My grandsons, who are graduating this year (cousins), also do the hair flipping until one mother made hers get it cut! lol College in the fall for both.
I love this story and it brought back a memory that I forgot. When my youngest son was in middle school he went to a dance. After he came home he told me that when he and Cassie (a classmate) were dancing she told him she liked him.. and yes, nonchalantly I replied “What did you say to her?” His answer (and I can still his voice) was, “Oh” . In my head I just want to laugh but I only reply “oh” !
Who steals our boys and leaves us men? Mine is nineteen and out on his own. When I see him after months apart, there is a mixture of pride and confusion. *sigh*
Love this story so much!
Such a cute story! He IS a cutie -- no wonder the girls are interested! Hope he's happy at Baylor!
Your son is beautiful on the outside, and I'm sure inside, also! But what does one expect, with two parents such as you and your husband. Congratulations on raising a wonderful son!