How is it possible that I have a son graduating from college? He was just 2 and 7 and 14… It wasn’t long ago that he fiercely gripped his favorite Elmo toy on the 10-block push to nursery school on the first day. I remember when he lost a bicuspid and swore he saw the Tooth Fairy’s “spaahkalee” blue wing right outside his window. (He was so passionate about it he almost had me convinced.) I still have his original set of Crayola markers with which he learned to draw. His big strokes of ink turned into more defined scribbles, and original cartoon characters turned into purposeful graffiti and eventually art that we framed.
This is the kid who told me that he’d never need to learn to tie ’cause his shoes were Velcro! The sweet talker who told me that I made toast with a secret ingredient he just couldn’t put his finger on but perhaps it was love, just so I’d make the toast for him and he could remain on our couch Barney until it was time to actually eat. This is the teenager who, while holding ice packs to both sides of his mouth to help the swelling after having his wisdom teeth out, told me that he wasn’t sure that they did it yet– he was incredibly loopy and funny from the anesthetic. The very same young adult who was amazed when he found out that a club sandwich had not two but three slices of bread– this was recently! (Classic Matty)
Now my son is an accomplished shoelace tie-er– yeah, I didn’t let that one slide. In addition to being a clothing and accessory resale mogul since his early teens, Matthew knows every designer, every scheduled drop, and the history and inspiration behind every single noteworthy collection. He has become an artist and clothing designer in his own right, boasting a massive portfolio of flats, clothes he’s made from scratch (how cool?!), a library of logos, and doodles and rough ideas that number in the thousands. His work has been liked multiple times by his art idol Kenny Scharf and complimented by Tommy Hilfiger personally.
Today Matty adds one more thing to his list of accomplishments– COLLEGE GRADUATE!
He doesn’t have a job lined up just yet, but he is feverishly looking. His goal is to land a plumb spot at a menswear company designing, or work on cool collaborations, or maybe create patterns for a textile or design firm. (He’s happy to entertain referrals or recommendations– just sayin’.)
His Plan-B options are a little more colorful. Like if Olympic Sleeping were a competitive sport, Matty would be a shoe in for the gold medal. Then there could be a possible endorsement deal from Sleepy’s or Serta? Nike might get in on the action with a new line of athletic sleepwear that he could even design himself! He’d probably call it, “All You Can Sleep,” or not since he vetoes all of my suggestions. So Matty’s petitioned the Olympic Committee to add Sleeping to the roster of sports. (Fingers crossed, ya’ll!) He’s an incredible Cookie Tester so he fired off his CV directly to the kitchen of Tate’s Cookies to see if they were hiring. And Matty is all about the snappy comebacks, clapbacks, and witty banter, so he shot Seth Meyers a funny text, and emailed Jimmy Kimmel’s team to see if they need some young, fresh talent.
I have very high hopes for this kid. His incredible passion, deep empathy, kind heart, endless creativity, and sense of humor will surely launch him into a successful role.
Congratulations Matthew! You did it, Shorty!!! I love you to the moon and back, and yes, I do love you more.
Love, Mom xoxo
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