My son is now attending community college. I was ashamed, but now I'm proud

I have felt this secret piece of shame because my kiddo isn't going "off to college".
I realised it was my own pride of me not announcing his plans...that I somehow felt less of a parent for helping him go a more affordable route through his tertiary education.
I was talking to someone about celebrating all the average kids. Let's cheer on the kids who aren't in the dorm rooms, who aren't off exploring different cities and states. Let's celebrate the kids who are making different choices after high school graduation.
Here's what I'm celebrating:
  • He made the decision to attend a local community college to get his Associates Degree. Right now, it's in finance. He's still figuring his life out and has changed what he wants to do with his future about six times in the last year.
  • He made the decision to help keep student loan and housing costs low by living at home for at least the next two years.
  • He made the decision to keep working at a local restaurant while he's studying to help pay for his car, his car insurance, his gym membership, his Accutane, and weird food habits.
  • He made these decisions to help reduce his student loan debt.
It turns out there's nothing average about any of this.
I'm proud of him -- and if your kid took a different route after high school, I'm proud of your kid, too.
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