I picked up a different child

Because of the way high school does the finals schedule, Robert has been finished with his exams by 11:30 each day.  Yesterday he stayed a bit to finish an AG woodworking project and then I picked him up and brought him (and it) home.  Today he doesn't have any finals, so when I picked him up yesterday, he had officially completed his freshmen year of high school...and the child I picked up was not the same child I had sent to school in the morning.  This child was chatty and smiling and pleasant...not the sulky and moody child who had left in the morning.  I was absolutely astounded.  Clearly, school, finals, and probably state mandated testing, had taken a toll on him this spring.  There are still LOTS of issues that need to be addressed in his life, but I am so grateful to have my cheerful son returned to me!