Educating Courtney

Educating Courtney

“Mom, do you remember when I applied to all those universities when I got out of high school. All the paperwork and all the questions to answer. Writing a cover letter, writing an essay about why I wanted the programs I was asking for.  Just getting out of high school and knowing nothing about anything?” 

“Oh yes, I sure do remember. I remember I wanted to pull my hair out with all the questions you asked me. And then there were your moods that went up and down and sideways after you mailed all three of them out.”

“I wasn’t that bad, was I?”

“Well, maybe not with your friends but with me and your dad, you sure were. But we all got through it. You were accepted to all three universities. And then you didn’t want to go. You didn’t want to leave home and your friends that you’d known since kindergarten. The university you finally chose was only an hours drive from here, but you still thought that was too far. I reminded you that you really could come home every weekend.”

“You dropped everything so you and dad could drive me over there. We took a day trip to the little town of Morganstern. That town was and still is so small it didn’t seem that it should be a university town. But there it was. The prettiest little university campus that I’ve ever seen. As soon as I saw it, walked on the grounds, watched the families and new grads coming out into the fresh air, I knew I could to it. I could live there and I could focus on my studies. I was certain there wouldn’t be any guys there to distract me. I could just go out in the country with my books and the quiet. But there was this one guy there…”

“It only takes one, honey and he’s turned out to be a pretty good son-in-law.”

“He’s kind of cute too, in a hunky sort of way. And there they are. Dad and his two kiddo’s coming in the front door.”

Courtney called out to her young family. “Lunch is ready and on the table. You just got here on time. All of you go get washed up before you sit down, please. Grandma’s here for lunch too.”

“Hey, girls. What have you been up to today? All this time on your hands to just visit and play in the kitchen.”

The children burst into the kitchen chattering and laughing, racing past their mom to the waiting arms of their Grandma. Always a special source of smiles and hugs and much, much love. Courtney had graduated with a Degree in Family Studies in that little campus town, with the added bonus of a gaining a rambunctious loving family.

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”

~ Mark Twain