Home > Blogs > Dr. Paula McDonald > Branching Out with All-things Real Estate

THE LAST SACK LUNCH!

By Dr. Paula McDonald

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Beam & Branch Realty TREC #547752

May 23, 2012 12:42 AM

THE LAST SACK LUNCH!

Today is a super bitter-sweet day for me. My 18 year old son will be graduating and today was his last full day at school. I was packing up his lunch and it hit me. This is the last sack lunch that I will make for him as a school boy. I know, you are probably saying to yourself, "can't he pack his own lunch?".

The answer is simple. This is one of those tasks that I have relished (ha ha pun intended) over the years. Packing my son's lunch and making him breakfast has given me little nuggets of time that I will always treasure. As he got older, the time he wants to "hang out" with adults became tougher.

The little time that I have shared with Cameron over the years at breakfast I will never regret. I was able to have a great conversation with him and just connect personally. Those are the best little golden nuggets.

So today as I watched him walk through that door, a huge lump choked me. We all know it is going to happen yet when it does, the flashes of memories zip through your mind. I have been truly blessed all of these years to have watched this precious boy grow up. What an honor it has been.

So I may have packed my last sack lunch today but I will forever have a full sack of beautiful memories with many more to come!

Cameron

Re-Blog

Comments(17)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Stephanie Stringer

First Choice Loan Services NMLS#210764 - San Antonio, TX

Mortgage Loan Originator

Paula- Oh my, I don't even know your son and you got me very teary eye right now. We as parents are so blessed to cherrish all these memories through out the years. Eighteen years may seem like a long time but as parents those years go by so fast!

May 23, 2012 12:59 AM

Wayne Zuhl

Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ

The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

I'm all choked up! What a beautiful story! Congratulations to Cameron, and to you!

May 23, 2012 01:11 AM

Dr. Paula McDonald

Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX

Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Awe, thank you both. I was choked up even writing this post. Amazing how you think you will be ok with this and bam, you are fighting back the tears and wondering where all of the time went! Oh my how time zooms by. Gotta hang on for dear life. Love those babies and treasure the memories.

May 23, 2012 01:17 AM

Mike Frazier

Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN

Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Paula, I have two daughters that will leave the nest soon and I know what you are feeling.

May 23, 2012 02:19 AM

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ

602-380-4886

Paula you sure got me choked up! What a beautiful real life story - and a huge day for you and Cameron. Time does fly by so fast. Our son now has a 1 and 3 yr old - how did that happen. He's just a kid!

May 23, 2012 03:29 AM

Dr. Paula McDonald

Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX

Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Hey Mike and Anna. It does go by too quickly. How is that they get older and we don't? :) Now on to the next season of life. It is all a wonderful cycle that we just have to savor each and every season while we are in the season. It's all good as they say!

May 23, 2012 03:33 AM

Jon Eliason

EXIT Realty Advantage Pagosa, Pagosa Springs, Colorado - Pagosa Springs, CO

Paula ~ It really is amazing how fast they grow up. Mine graduated in '07 and it seemed like yesterday. Having those memories are truly cherished.

May 23, 2012 08:24 AM

William Feela

WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN

Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Paula...it is the small things that we remember the most. Hang on to those memories.

May 23, 2012 12:03 PM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing your story. I expect that your thoughts are shared by many mothers this month. Best wishes to Cameron as he seeks the opportunities that await him.

I posted your blog on my Facebook timeline.

May 23, 2012 11:12 PM

Tammy Emineth

Personal SEO - Website SEO and Real Estate Marketing - Frenchtown, MT

Content Marketer, SEO Teacher, Website Fixer

Paula, what a precious sentement you wrote here. Something you will also, always treasure. Beautiful words. Thanks you for sharing and stay strong.. he will always need you. :)

May 23, 2012 11:18 PM

Cheryl Thomson REALTOR Ret Army

United Real Estate DC Metro Region (703.216.5635) cheryltee47@gmail.com - Prince William, VA

Associate Broker in Northern Virginia

I thought I was the only one that still make lunch for them to take to school...

May 23, 2012 11:23 PM

Than Maynard

Coldwell Banker Heart of Oklahoma - Purcell, OK

Broker - Licensed to List & Sell - 405-990-8862

Congratulations on the graduation. I still have quit a few years before one leaves home.

May 24, 2012 03:56 AM

Irene Durocher

Coldwell Banker BUYERS AGENT - Boca Raton, FL

homesweethome4u@att.net

Hi Paula , his future awaits him. As a mother of two children who are grown and on their own

it is the beginning of the next chapter. Your memories will continue to grow. I now have 3

grandsons, one is active military. Time together is very precious, enjoy it.

May 25, 2012 09:42 AM

Suzanne McLaughlin

Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN

Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Great looking kid, Paula, and we know that you have instilled in him wonderful dreams and a great background with which to reach those dreams. The best is still ahead as you watch your young man settle into life with honor and love.

May 26, 2012 04:38 AM

Ron Marshall

Marshall Enterprises - Saint Michael, MN

Birdhouse Builder Extraordinaire

Wow. You look pretty good for having a son that age. And, the young man apparently takes after his mother in looks.

Don't worry, he won't ever really leave you. He will always want your guidance and love.

May 26, 2012 06:34 AM

Anna Dovger

Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX

Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Paula, your post brought tears to my eyes. I will have the same situation next year. I don't want even think about it. Congratulation on graduation.

May 27, 2012 04:37 AM

Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind

KGC Properties LLC, Tucson Property Management & Real Estate - Tucson, AZ

Broker/Owner

HI PAULA! I got a lump in my throat reading this. Ugh - I am still hanging onto my daughter and remembering the first of many lunches I've packed. I'm going to miss this and like you - it comes faster than we know. Your son is a handsome young man - you must be proud!

May 28, 2012 12:27 AM