From Small Wins to Big Moments: Honoring Our Son’s Graduation

This week, our family is celebrating a milestone that feels both tender and extraordinary: Collier’s high school graduation. There won’t be a stadium full of students or rows of caps in the air — just a small, simple, precious ceremony for our homeschooled senior. But for us, this moment holds every bit as much meaning, joy, and pride. Collier has worked incredibly hard, overcoming challenges and carving out his own path with strength and determination. Watching him reach this point feels like witnessing a hundred quiet victories coming together in one beautiful moment.

When I look back at the early years, it’s impossible not to see this graduation as a collection of victories we once weren’t sure were possible. When Collier was around two, we were told he might never talk and should begin learning sign language — today, he talks our ears off with stories, ideas, and jokes. We once wondered if he’d ever be able to connect with kids his age — today, he is an Eagle Scout who has built friendships, led projects, and stepped confidently into leadership. I used to worry whether he’d ever have the “normal” experiences so many families take for granted, and now he has gone to youth camp, traveled on a mission trip to Guatemala, earned his driver’s permit, and is working hard on his driving skills. Each milestone has been its own quiet triumph, and together they tell a story of a young man who has exceeded every expectation placed before him.

We still don’t know exactly what his future will look like, and there are moments when the questions feel big. Will he be able to live independently? Will he marry or have children? Will he discover a career that lights him up? Those are all possibilities we’ll explore in time, but they don’t need answers today. This week is about celebration — about watching him put on that cap and gown, honoring how far he’s come, and allowing ourselves to sit fully in the joy of his graduation.