A New Chapter: Page 1

It was just a few short months ago that my daughter, Kayla joined me to present a checque to the CHEO Telethon on behalf of the Doc and Woody Fund.

She was gearing up for exams for the final time at Notre Dame High School. She was graduating. Mrs. Woody and I had seen the last of our parent-teacher interviews and would soon observe with pride as Kayla would walk across the auditorium stage to accept her awards and diploma.

The summer went by all too quickly for all of us and, before we knew it, Day 1 at Ottawa University was upon us.

This summer was the first vaction my wife and I ventured out alone. Our two older kids, Bob and Angie, were bound by their full-time jobs. Kayla, for the first time ever, stayed behind to keep her commitment to her newfound summer job at Bell Canada. With her tuition taken care of through scholarship money, she wanted to make it through her first year debt-free. Who would argue with our young fiscal conservative.

Last week, we made a date to have a bite at Don Cherry's on Rideau. We sat together talking football, school, clothes, finding a job and just about anything else that came up. She has a passion for life; a joie de vivre. Her mother has always marveled at Kayla's innate positivity. As she grew, her self confidence developed and, combined with her creative nature, she became a natural communicator. With the direction of her Theatre Arts teacher, Amy Lenser, excellence was achieved in Drama. She scored 100% for the semester. It came as no surprise that she would major in Theatre at U of O.

A favourite memory of mine will always be her performance with me on the 2005 CHEO Telethon when I handed the microphone over to her and let her shine before the cameras. She's a natural. I have little doubt that she will excel in university and apply her skills and her passion to something she loves to do.

After lunch, we strolled up King Edward to the campus where she took me on a walking tour. Ottawa U is a village unto itself; a world within a world. It's her next step in defining the life that will be all hers.

I couldn't help but feel the bittersweetness of it all. Our roll as parents has changed for the last time. She's the last one. We're no longer sole providers, disciplinarians and value setters. We're more like consultants and advisors to all of our kids now. They will always seek our counsel and support for decisions they make in their lives. But they will be their decisions to make. I feel no less important in their lives. I just feel..... different.

We're proud of you! All three of you!!!