I drove away from the event center last night where my son had just graduated, alone.  

I had a Gwen Stefani CD in the CD player and I felt a shift as the coin of acceptance dropped and I belted out “Ain’t no Hollaback Girl” along with Gwen.

Everything felt just … right.

Nic left the event with his girlfriend, my parents left together and I left with a smile on my face.

I have been so scared of the rapid changes in the dynamics of my relationship with Nic this past year!  I needn’t have been.

Here I was worrying about where I would fit in his life.  Here (Literally right here) I was worrying whether or not I’d done enough for him – done the right things by him.

Then, in the parking lot right after graduation, he picked my mom up in a hug and then shook my dads hand, and POOF!  The worry dissipated.

I mentally dusted my hands with a ‘well, that’s-that then’ resolve, and a peace settled in.

It was sort of  like hearing your little one say “thank you” without being prompted for the first time, or seeing them hold the door open for someone (Okay, I still feel a surge of  pride when he does those things.) 

In a single moment, I glimpsed Nic, the young man, and I was simultaneously proud of him and awash with an odd sensation of freedom.  Freedom from worry.

When I got home, (after uploading a bazillion photos to my ipad and managing to blow my icloud memory out of the sky)  I had a little time alone to reflect. 

And in reflecting I was SO grateful! 

I thought about all the people who had a hand, directly or indirectly, in raising my son with me. 

Yes, I’m a single mom, but a whole slew of people have been instrumental in the successful rearing of my child.  (And now I’m cracking up thinking of the quote from ‘Knocked Up’: Jay: I’m going to be there to rear your child. Jason: You hear that, Ben? Don’t let him near the kid, he wants to rear your child!)

I was completely filled with appreciation and memories.  Gratitude and love.

I wanted to thank every single person individually.  There are people who don’t even realize how much of an impact they had on my journey as a mom. 

So I try to tell people who touch my life that they have.  I try to remember to thank and acknowledge the people I love, the people who love me back – and the people who love Nic.

And in that moment, when Nic had my mother in his arms – and my dads hand in his – I knew he was doing the same thing.