Ethan’s School Journey

I remember taking Ethan to his very first day of Grade 00 at CBC Boksburg – “Big School”- thinking that this was the first of endless days to come. 14 years seemed like the LONGEST time. It felt like school was going to last forever! And yet here we are, at the end of those 14 years and they have flown by! I feel like I blinked and missed them!

Daunting Task

I have been trying to write this post for 6 months. It was initially going to be an 18th birthday post. But I have SO many pictures and so many memories of the past 18 years with this special child of ours that it’s just felt like such a daunting task. So I’ve changed it to his ‘last-weeks-of-school’ post.

It felt like the perfect time, as he embarks on his final exams and says farewell to his school career, to share with you pictures from his last 14 years. I loved watching him play sports and thrive at it. Excel in the classroom. Thrive amongst his peers. Take a leadership role in kids church. So many, many happy memories. I have to stop myself from getting all emotional and rambling on and on about all his achievements. But as a post dedicated to Ethan, it would be remiss of me not to mention a few of his highlights.

Exciting Ride

This boy – now a young man – that made me a mom, has taken us on a wild ride over the years. He’s pushed the boundaries, driven us crazy and had us bursting with pride. He’s been a stellar student…then a very lazy student…then back to being a stellar student.

He never failed to reach the goals he set for himself in the classroom, receiving his academic scroll every year of his prep school career and finishing prep school with an academic and sports scholarship for high school (neither of which we accepted as he had his heart set on attending boarding school at King Edward VII School).

On the sports field he loved anything that had a ball and a team. Playing provincial (or State) level hockey and cricket and representing South Africa in the Invitational team at the Indoor Cricket World Series in 2012. Taking up rowing and being awarded the most improved oarsman in his first season. Playing basketball and scoring goals for the team in every match. He embraced our move to Australia with such enthusiasm and has taken to our new home like a duck to water.

Starting over in Aus

He got a part time job, bought himself his first car, got back into studying hard for his trials (scoring the highest marks on the maths paper and a perfect score for his English creative writing essay!!) …And I was fortunate enough to be there for all of it. There’s never been a dull moment and I am so very blessed to have him call me mom. I hope you enjoy looking through a few of his highlights. In and out of school.

His life chronicled in pictures. Not all of them great, but memories all the same. Because of a robbery at our house just before we left for Australia I have lost a lot of my originals and some of these are from my Facebook albums – so not the best quality. But I needed to include them because they were some of my very favourite memories of those special times.

So Proud

Ethan – you make us so proud angel. We know that you have so many amazing opportunities just waiting for you to grab them. You’ve studied hard and are ready for the upcoming HSC. The world is your oyster and the journey has only just begun!!

All my love always,

Mom!!!

xxx