Graduation dress rehearsal

My little baby girl is not so little anymore. After months of long school days, stress, emotional breakdowns and hard work she has done it - Nelly Bo is graduating primary school after 12 years and is now ready for gymnasium.

She started on the average program after just making it through 8th grade. Once in 9th grade, she did so well that the teacher talked her into going up to the advanced program. I'm not an academic myself and neither is Jay so when Nelly Bo got the chance to shine with her academic brightness, we were all up for it. "Take your chance and see how it goes. You go girl!"

We have believed in her from day one, probably more than she ever believed in herself. It hasn't been easy. In fact it has been incredibly challenging. Not only did she have to repeat a year to catch up with her fellow students in her new class and learn Italian basics over the summer break, but she also faced some health challenges in 2017 that turned her world (and our world) totally upside down... something that was too private too share at the time and still feels very private... But she made it through, recovered and survived the aftermath and although she lost almost 200 hours of school last year, she passed. She stayed focused on her education in all the turmoil and I am so, so, SO proud to see her graduating with bonus points in her certificate. But its not the points that makes me so overly proud. It is the accomplishment. That she never gave up. She fought anxieties, stress, tears and fear and were so close to quit a number of times. And we supported her in any decision she would take along this journey. If she wanted to go back down, may so be it. But no, she continued and did this for herself. Against all odds she pushed through and finished on top of the world. She has just proved to herself that she has the capacity to do whatever she wants to do. That is the big win here today.

This last week, after all exams were completed and we found out that she will get her diploma, we have been searching for the perfect graduation dress. She knows what she wants my girl. It's been a bit of a challenge for me... We have had arguments about The dress: what style, budget, buy online or shop around locally... how important is this? Apparently VERY important. Graduating 11th grade in Switzerland is a BIG thing. I had no idea...

I'm not sure how many shops we've visited neither how many dresses she has tried on... I've taken big breaths more than once to not loose my patience... After hours of dress hunting we found what she was looking for. This is the one!

She loves it because it shows off her silhuette and the flowers look like they are painted in water colors. She loves it because it is classy and timeless and makes her feel Swedish. I love it too. And I can't believe my little baby girl has grown to become this beautiful young woman. It sound cheesy I know but Ooooh My, isn't she lovely in that dress?

Dress rehearsal is done... Friday the 6th of July is the big day. It appears that she will perform a piece on the piano on stage. And I'm gonna cry. Be so sure. How could I not? Every Mama would, right? Wouldn't you?

Kärlek
Annette

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