Learning is unpredictable. I have tried for a number of years to plan out my children’s education and each year my plans need adjustment as we go along.
I have a tendency to power along through life without realizing that my plans are futile and need to be adjusted until I reach a critical point and have an epiphany. And this is one of those cases.
I have worried about how to plan the future high school years for my children so that should they decide a college education is important, they will easily have that opportunity. I read books. I consulted with experts. I embarked on a massive documentation adventure. I was so focused on the possibility that they would not learn enough that it never occurred to me that they might learn more than I expected.
Last week my daughter was sitting with me in our living room. It was evening and I thought she was playing games on her little laptop. And then the questions came. “Mommy, with an x-y coordinate system which number is recorded first in the parenthesis – the x or the y?”
After answering, I remained alert as I knew more similar questions would follow. But nothing prepared me for the next set of questions from my eleven year-old.
“Mommy, isn’t the SAT what kids take to go to college?”
“Then why is it to easy?”
At this point I thought she might be talking about the math practice exam, but actually she meant the English section.
That little conversation triggered my epiphany: planning is pointless.
Worrying about the future educational opportunities for my children is an utter waste of time.
They will learn and grow according to their own pace. I can encourage, help them through tough spots, and provide a range of opportunities. But in the end, how much they learn is really not in my hands at all. They are the ones who control their future and as long as they are happy, life will be good for them.
Letting loose the reigns a bit and following (while holding the map of requirements and possibilities) rather than leading is very scary, but I truly think it is the right thing to do.
