Being a Parent

One of the hardest parts of being a parent is letting your children fail. It goes against every instinct a parent has, yet is the most important opportunity we can give them. If there is no failure than can be no success. And learning to handle that failure well, is a life skill everyone should have.

Our youngest has reading comprehension difficulties that make all book learning a slow and tedious process. He has gradually been working through 2 correspondence courses that he must have to get his high school diploma. I have been at him for months to get the work done. This has gotten me a lot of "yeah, I know"'s but not so much work done.

Last night we were at a grad meeting, discussing the requirements to be included in the graduation ceremony and other details. He was stunned to hear he had until May 1st to have all of his course work handed in. I had been telling him this for months but it took someone else saying it before he took it seriously. AHHHHHH!

He was practically in tears because he knew there was no way he could get everything done by May 1st. At home we discussed the options and I stressed that while he might not participate in the ceremony, he still had a chance to qualify to take the diploma exams and thus get his high school diploma. (Of course I didn't say he would keep at it until he did pass, although that was what I was thinking)

This morning he spoke to the principal of his own volition and got an extension on his course work. I don't now the details of the conversation (he is never good at sharing) but the result has given him the incentive that he needed.

Even if things don't work out, he learned something important. And that makes it all worth while.