A few weeks ago, I met with my daughter's new guidance counselor to plan her freshman year. I can't believe it! She has made so much progress, and we are thrilled with her growth and development. Still, there is a tiny part of my heart that screams, "Wait! Don't grow up so quickly!" As I walked into the school for our appointment, I glanced down and saw some coins on the sidewalk. It took awhile to gather them up, as I had to chip some of them out of the ice! But, my efforts garnered me 87 cents jingling in my pocket. Not bad for a few minutes' work! I'll tell you what...no matter how old I get, finding money on the sidewalk makes me feel incredibly lucky. And rich. It was a wonderful reminder, as I walked into that meeting, of how lucky and rich I am every day to be raising this most exceptional girl.
Later in the week, I was chatting with a colleague of mine about the transition in to high school and, in four short years, onto the "next chapter." She said that she really encourages parents to carefully plan the four years of high school in such a way that 12th grade becomes very much like a "dress rehearsal" for college or independent living. "Without that kind of supervised practice," she said, "a lot of kids really flounder their first year of college."
And I thought to myself, "Wow. That's one expensive 'flounder.'"
Looks like we've got our marching orders for the next four years...I hope I can fit in all of the life lessons, practical skills, and wisdom I want to impart!
How are you preparing for "dress rehearsal?" Send me an email with your ideas!
You have an exceptional girl (and an exceptional boy, too!) because YOU are an exceptional parent! I can only hope to do half as well with these upcoming high school years!
Posted by: Rebecca | March 11, 2008 at 08:30 AM