Taking off into the unknown…..
Aug 3rd, 2008 by Don Ledingham
Our eldest boy (he’s the one launching himself into the darkness!!) returned from Australia on Friday. I know this sounds like a terrible cliche but he did leave as a boy and has returned a man.
I’m now more convinced than ever of the value of a gap year experience - or at least something before university life - especially for boys. His brother has followed his lead and deferred entry until 2009.
The warning sign to the right of the picture was not lost on his mother. But sometimes they just need to do their own thing….
Sounds as if he’s had a great year and gained all the benefits you hope a post-school year out will confer on them.
Whereas my gender-stereotypical, very organised younger daughter, now 24, first gained her degree, worked as a waitress for a year to get some money of her own and is now about to go off to New Zealand for a year with some practical life skills to see her through the experience. I can see that she will make more of the year away in the big wide world because of the perspective her maturity gives her. Perhaps it is selfish of me to be pleased that she is doing her thing in this step-by-step way.
Her University experience would inevitably have been different doing it the other way round. Which would be more beneficial to her and the world? Time will tell I suppose, and generalisations are probably not useful.
Like yours. my younger son has also deferred his University place till 2009. I’m with your wife in looking at this photo of your son! While I’m smiling at the utter exuberance captured there, it scares the hell out of me!
Dorothy
Dorothy
You’re right to be wary of gender stereotyping but the differences between boys and girls sometimes seem too significant to ignore.
What’s right for one person will be wrong for another.
Hope all works out well for your daughter.
Just like the beach rugby on Islay
Don and Doug
Glad to see you made it back home Doug! Hope the rugby game you saw before you headed off was good - welcome any time and keep in touch!
I remember my daughter announcing she had landed a plum job with HBOS after getting a well-deserved degree in one breath and then in the next telling me she had knocked it back unless they agreed to defer it for a year. They did and she took herself off around the world!
One thing I do know is that I know more of her life that year than I have done since she was a little girl as she took the time to phone, email and post pictures on Yahoo of all her adventures. Hurrah for technology!
My 2 boys seem more like homebirds at the moment, but time will tell!
I love the picture. Warning signs are there to be ignored (or tested out in safety of the day when the other lads aren’t watching). For a man who likes his metaphors, you’ve got a year’s worth in there at least!
Ewan
I hope Douglas lives up to this photograph throughout his life!!