Graduation season has recently passed and represents an end to one of life’s main events and the right of passage to a new, yet uncharted beginning. A month ago, I attended the graduation of my grandson from the World Class Kayak Academy in White Salmon, Washington. As I boarded the plane in Boston en route to Portland, Oregon, I was reminded of a similar trip seventeen years before to attend Liam’s birth.

Although I live 3000 miles from my daughter and her family, I have spent a lot of time with her boys. They both have come to visit my husband and me in our summerhouse in Rhode Island for two or three weeks each summer. I also have visited them in Portland a few times a year. I have watched Liam grow from a tiny baby into a confident soon-to-be college student.

When babies are first born and throughout their childhood, we often attempt to discern which family member they look like. Liam physically resembled his mother with his blonde hair, blue eyes and small pug nose, yet his personality traits were and continue to be similar to that of his father, as they both are fearless, athletic risk takers.

Liam at age two

Liam became enraptured with kayaking in his early teens and worked tirelessly for a local kayak store so he could earn a portion of the necessary funds to enroll in a high school specializing in kayaking. Due to his strong work ethic and perseverance, Liam was able to attend WCA for the majority of his truncated three years of high school. He lived, studied, and kayaked in places like Chile, Costa Rica, and Mexico with other students who live all around the world.  Conversely, his parents would have much preferred that their son  remain in the safety of their home and attend the local high school. However, Liam’s unflappable passion and determination to follow his own path were convincing and ultimately he persuaded his parents to acquiesce.

As Liam passed through childhood and adolescence, I discerned that he displayed several characteristics that his family members and ancestors possessed. As a psychologist, I sometimes used a genogram to map out family relationships and patterns. It is similar to a family tree, yet far more descriptive. The males are characterized by a square, while a circle represents the females.   The color-coded key contains various personality characteristics, attributes, hobbies, and patterns of behavior; for example, red may represent athleticism, yellow-superior intelligence, blue-depression and so on. In creating Liam’s square, I found that many of his characteristics were similar to those of my Uncle Barton’s; both were risk takers, highly intelligent, adventurous, fiercely independent, fearless, and they both viewed the world through a global lens.

As I watched my grandson lead the students to their designated chairs in front of the assembled group of family and friends, I was filled with pride. Liam had been president of his school, his grades were outstanding, he had received more than a dozen company endorsements for his expertise in paddling, and his teachers presented glowing accounts of his performance in class, on the rivers, and as a leader. As Liam delivered his speech at the podium, I was blown away. His delivery, humor, self-confidence, and charisma enraptured the audience, as they listened to his rich content! I thought I knew Liam so well, yet I hadn’t realized that he possessed an extraordinary gift for public speaking, for which his Great-Grandfather, his Great-Uncle Barton, and his Uncle Christian (my son) were renowned. As I watched Liam grow up, he constantly changed in some ways, yet remained the same in others. Liam’s physical resemblance now favors his father and as he evolves into adulthood, he is unveiling new personality traits that are reminiscent of our ancestors!

As Liam’s speech came to a close, with sincerity he explained to the audience, “I would like to give my grandmother, Nana, huge thanks because she has been one of my biggest advocates in life. She has challenged me and pushed me to follow my dreams and has helped me to achieve them.” Then he looked directly into my eyes, and said, “For that I owe you the world.” Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. Joining my family in their prideful celebration, I envisioned Uncle Barton sporting a large grin as he gently wiped away my happy tears.

Watch Liam in Action by Clicking the Link Below

Video of Liam Kayaking