"What are We Doin' Next, Mom?"

A constant in my life is my eldest son's question, repeated a myriad of times each day, "What are we doin' next, Mom?" Fairly standard stuff if you don’t think about it. But for me the utterance of each response holds potential of all importance, as you see, the answer to Corey’s eminent questions are fundamental in his world, preparing him for transition, determining his days, shaping his life.
As children mature the verbiage of their questions often changes. The pronouns of their query typically shifting from we to I and their willingness of acceptance in our answers seldom a given. Challenging as it may be for us (and them) this,
I suppose, is what our ultimate goal has pretty much been from day one; to produce independent, problem solving souls, who question life and their ability to shape their own destiny.
At nineteen, my second born has not made this transition in thought, his questions of “what’s next” still including “we”. Irony playing a significant role in our grown up relationship -- the memory of my anxiety over whether or not he would ever be capable of independence of his father and I still fresh in my mind, as I lay the foundation for his future. My answers now more significant than ever before as they affect so much more than just our timing for lunch or if we will be stopping at the store today.
The “seed” for Late Bloomers has lain dormant for a number of years, a personal vision of sorts, just waiting for development. A year ago, when Corey was asked as he approached the end of his high school career, what it was that he wanted to do when he grew up, he answered with the confidence of a valedictorian, “A farmer. I want to be a farmer.” And so Late Bloomers seed was planted -- a little bit about farming, a little more of gardening, and a lot about the inclusion of an entire family and community.