Every day, for a multitude of reasons, I become more and more concerned for our children and young people. I just want to share some of these thoughts with you today. These are my personal thoughts so feel free to have a different opinion--that doesn't bother me at all.
For some reason, somebody, somewhere decided that children should not be allowed to be children. It seems they should be reading before they can walk and writing sentences before they can make one. I know that is a little exaggerated--but not much. Why are we in such a rush for our children, who only have a little time to be carefree, to move out of childhood into adulthood? I am constantly saying to no one in particular and to everyone who will listen--WHAT IS THE RUSH???!!!!
Think back to your own childhood. Some of you are younger than me (which is more and more frequent these days) but I imagine that even those of you who are in your 30s remember childhood being a time of fun and discovery. I know I grew up in a different time out in the country, but I remember days spent playing outside. Some of my fondest memories are of days when time had no meaning to me. I remember playing in Kim Suiter's playhouse and walking to her grandmother's house. As I got older I remember putting a quilt under the walnut tree in the front yard during the summer and staying there for a long time reading books. I remember playing in the mud and learning to ride my bike. And some memories are funny now but weren't then... like my brother dragging my bike behind his with a rope and me not staying upright--no he didn't stop! Or the times we fought and I always got the worst whipping because he'd go first and make Momma mad because he laughed and then I'd get to make up for it! But it was a good time. I learned things that were beneficial to me as an adult while I was growing up--like how to do laundry and cook and clean house. But I also learned how to entertain myself. Once I was old enough to read, I read through the entire Childcraft series we had--some of you remember those red and white books your parents got with the World Books!!! And here is the craziest thing in all the world---I did not have any "formal" education until I was 6 years old and went to the 1st grade!!!!!!!! HORROR OF HORRORS!
Now, I already hear your responses--there is so much more for children to learn today. But I beg to differ. Didn't you learn to read and do math (real math not some of this crazy stuff) and study health and history and science? Well, kids today have to learn the same things. Oh, but what about technology? you say. What about it? I didn't grow up with technology but I work every single day using it. Children don't have to know how to open their iPad before they know how to open the door. They will learn what they need to learn along the way---just like you did. Just like I did. Just like every generation from the beginning of time did. Slow down with your children. Turn off the TV and talk to them. Teach them to entertain themselves. (We all know that playing make-believe is one of the best things for a child to do to help develop their intelligence and social skills.) Let's take more time teaching our children about the fruits of the Spirit. Teach them to be good and kind and compassionate and empathetic. Teach them about Jesus and what He did for them. Sing songs. Dance. Run races. Laugh. But, slow down. I promise you with all my heart that you will not regret one single minute you spend with them and long after you are gone, they will tell stories about things you did together. (Y'all know my stories about building fences with my Daddy before I was school age!)
Next, I'm going to talk about something that will probably get me in lots and lots of trouble but at this point I don't care. (This is my personal blog, by the way.) Why are y'all in such a hurry for your teenagers to become adults and get out of your house? Haven't you already seen that being an adult is not the greatest thing in the world? Haven't you ever longed to go back to be dependent on your parents to worry about the bills? Why does anybody think that a 20 year old is ready to take on the world? I know they think they are but you know that 99% of them are not. So why are in such a rush to get them out of college? Yes, I know money is an issue. Yes, I know that taking classes at the high school is less expensive. But really, is it that important? Those students who qualify for those classes are going to be able to get some scholarship money. And, anyway, as a Junior and Senior in high school were you TRULY concerned about your college and career choices? Not me. I was having the time of my life--especially my senior year when I only needed 3 more credits to graduate. I enjoyed every single minute of that year. No stress. No pressure. Time to be a teenager and learn things that were going to be important in my adult life. My dad got cancer the first time while I was in high school. My mom stayed in Memphis with him the entire time. I went to school but I also was given the responsibility of paying the bills from their account. So I had to learn how to be sure bills were paid on time. That turned out to be much more helpful to me in adulthood than taking college algebra would have. And if your child has the opportunity to go to a community college on an academic scholarship, you could be harming yourself by getting all of those college courses early. You may also hurt their chances of getting "freshman" scholarships at a university if they go straight there. It is ok to take 4-5 years to get out of college. It is ok to start off as a freshman with freshman classes. Yes, I know each of you have children who are extremely academically gifted. But, again I say, it is perfectly OK to take freshman classes your freshman year. Most of us are not socially, emotionally, nor cognitively mature enough at 17 or 18 to be taking junior and senior level college classes. I know you are under pressure from the principal and counselors because they are under pressure from the superintendent because they are under pressure from MDE because they are under pressure from the legislature---most who are NOT educators. Let your academically gifted child take AP courses instead. I think they need time during their high school years to enjoy high school. I'm perfectly fine with a high school student having a job as long as it allows them to still be involved in school. I want them to learn to cook and do laundry and iron clothes and change a tire (or a light bulb) and have time to learn about dealing with friends and people who pretend to be your friends. But they can't learn those things if they are so busy getting a college education in high school that it takes up all of their time. I know this is not setting well with some of you, but again, my personal blog, my personal thoughts. (And, of course, I think you should be at Holmes for 4 semesters anyway! :) )
So the big take away--slow down the pace with your children. They don't have to participate in every activity that comes along. They don't have to be an adult by the time they are 5. We know that theory was debunked years ago--children are not miniature adults! Children do not have the mind of teenager. Teenagers do not have the mind of an adult. From my heart--the heart of a teacher and a grandmother--let your children enjoy growing up. You ENJOY watching them grow up and participate in their lives. Slow down. Take time. Adulthood comes soon enough, you know.
