Notes from Perry Street

“The Baby” is off to college.

It is hard to wrap our heads around the fact our youngest is leaving the nest. I’m sure many of you know what I’m talking about.

We tried to quit calling the youngest “The Baby,” but he was always good about it. Not only is he heading off to college this August, he’s also celebrating his 20th birthday. Time goes by so fast. I remember a particular day when I went to pick up “The Baby” and I couldn’t lift him anymore. He had grown up. I cried that day and knew we had stepped into a new season of life. We had entered these new seasons before - I remember the last time I nursed him and knew that was the last baby I would have. I cried that day too as I stepped into that season of life.

I was now a full-time mom and wife. My counseling and Life Coaching career would go on hold for many years. That is often what moms do. I was known as Levi’s, Seth’s, and Caleb’s mom. Life was about show and tell, school parties, campfires, reading to their class and carpool lines and becoming Boy Scouts. It was learning to love bugs, dirt, snakes, camping and just doing life with lots of boy hugs! We love the Three SONS of Thunder. Each son has their own unique style, personality and vibe. “The Baby” is known by everyone, including adults, as an “Old Soul.” He is also Master Shifu, who dispels his “wise words” at just the right moment. He is generous beyond measure and is a master storyteller.

Even though I was in mom mode “The Baby” often reminded me of some of my past successes and would literally say “Mom … don’t forget you got a Master’s degree and raised $500,000 dollars for the hospital.” He saw the best in everyone, and was quick to point out my best, something we as women and moms can forget about.

Winters taught all the SONS key lessons he learned and wanted to make sure they followed: Your word is your bond; honor your mother and marry someone like her; friends are not about quantity, but quality. Honor God. “Fear” no man but one - a Jewish carpenter from centuries ago. He taught them all how to cook. The Baby, okay, enough with that, let’s move on to Levi. He and Winters share a special passion for creating unforgettable recipes. Levi has his own chef knives and is known for waking up in the middle of the night to make his famous “no-knead bread.” We give his salsa, well it was mine at first but he perfected it, as Christmas gifts. He and Winters can spend hours watching cooking shows into the wee hours.

I prayed this day would come but I am not sure John Winters did. I believe he hoped the two of them would just freeze in time. Cooking and continuing to run our companies with us. Since 9th grade, Levi has done work-based learning. He would walk from Newnan High School after classes to work for Winters Media & Publishing. He and Winters spent almost every day together after school.

The youngest helped our team make Winters Media, The Paper and The Weekly what it is today. He wrote checks, balanced accounts, was our photographer at special events, designed our logos and helped deliver our publications. I have a feeling Winters will be texting Levi new recipes to try … and getting him to at least try journalism school.

I will end with what I told the two other SONS of Thunder as they left for college, “Fly my precious SON … you are ready to fly.”