Today’s visit with you is a little bit different and very personal to me.
As you can see from the photo there are three rings on three strong right hands of three grown men.
Those rings are college graduation rings. Those men are our boys.
Sara and I traveled to College Station to the campus of Texas A&M to see our baby - he’s 6-foot-1, 220 pounds - get his Aggie class ring as he will graduate soon.
My oldest - Floyd IV - graduated from college six years ago. Number Two Son Jacob got his degree and ring two years ago. This was James’ turn.
I am so proud of my boys!
Graduation Season
There are a lot of us around here looking forward to graduation this spring.
Clarksdale, Coahoma and Lee will soon dress them up in those silly square hats, that mean nothing else than you are a graduate, and march this year’s class down the aisle to get their diploma.
You will be just as proud as me, and may shed a tear like Sara, when they call out your child’s full name.
It’s bittersweet because you have pushed them so hard to get to this point, but are fearful about their next full step into adulthood.
It’s the healthy, natural process of raising children, but it still squeezes your heart.
Raising Men
I never told anyone I was raising four boys. I told people I was raising four men.
They were Sara’s babies and then her little boys and then they became teenagers.
And that’s where I came in.
I was fortunate to be raised in a home where Daddy was in charge. It was explained in no uncertain terms I could live my life like I wanted to when I paid the bills.
My Daddy also never let me speak sharp to my Momma. “That’s my girlfriend and nobody speaks to her like that” he said when my brothers or me got a little too much bass in our voice.
Where’s your class ring?
My sons asked me if I had a college class ring. I told them my Daddy was career Air Force and had two other sons he was trying to get through college.
I was roofing houses to pay rent and tuition and a class ring was a luxury I had little interest in.
Hindsight is one of the benefits of old age. I sure do wish I had invested in a class ring from Moo U in 1984!
Parental Pride
I’m so proud of my sons. I’m proud of what Sara and I have accomplished.
There are no guarantees when it comes to raising children. I’m proud of the Ingram men in this world.
Floyd Ingram is Editor of your Clarksdale Press Register and a blessed man this Easter! Call him at 662-627-2201 if you want to talk a long time about his family.
