Sept. 8/15 – Can’t believe summer is now over. I am really happy to have spent so much time with the kids (De, nieces and nephew) this summer! We came to Victoria yesterday to bring De back to his boarding school. Now, I am on the ferry going home.

I am having a lot of mixed feelings right now. A part of me is sad to say goodbye to De knowing I won’t be seeing him again every day like when he was at home during the summer. But another part of me is really happy knowing that this is what’s best for him. I saw how happy and excited he was to be reconnecting with his friends again.

While we were in the car, Deon told me, “Mom, I am actually feeling a bit guilty about what happened last year. I didn’t try as hard as I could or as hard as I should but I plan to work harder this year because I know it costs you a lot of money to send me to this school and you have to work really hard for it”. My heart totally melted when I heard this. I almost felt like crying, too. I remember that it’s a big goal of mine to teach my kids about “entitlement.” And the fact that he said this suggested that he doesn’t feel entitled at all. Actually, we had a discussion over his first online purchase last week about whether it’s worth spending his allowance savings on this jacket that he loves. I helped him decide by asking if he was willing to give up 20 bubble teas in exchange for the jacket. I also told him that it’s important to live within his own means. Then he corrected me, “Actually, it’s living within my own “wants” only cause all my needs have been taken care of by you already.”

After we moved all his belongings to his room, he gave me a warm hug and said, “Thank you for a great summer, Mom. I really enjoyed the time we spent together. Good luck on MC and your new overseas projects. I will miss you.”

I guess we both have mixed feelings of sadness and happiness at the same time. But I feel very solid in our connection regardless of distance. It’s a very rewarding feeling actually.