As I typed the title of this post I stopped to wonder how many of today’s adolescents would have resisted the urge to put the preposition at the end of the phrase — i.e. ‘A Lot To Be Thankful For’. I continue to worry about the texting and video-gaming culture America’s future leaders are growing up in. No, actually, the culture in which they are growing up!
Anyway, we’ve made it through mid-term conferences and at this point most parents have a pretty good feeling for where their kids are stacking up in the classroom. Even if you’ve learned that your child has a bit of an uphill climb in order to achieve classroom standards, he or she still has something for which to be thankful. That of course is you–a parent who is spending time on this site in a search to find what is best for the child’s progress. You taking the time to read this means that you care more about what’s best for your kids than the average Joe.
Two of my three children are school age, and their conferences generally went well. That said, there is always more we can do to help our kids excel. The conferences provided great opportunities to fully frame the picture in my mind of how each of my children interacts in his/her classroom environment. Even though I participate in volunteer activities at their schools, it is always great to have a formal meeting of the minds with the teacher. Hopefully that meeting of the minds confirms that you both know the areas of needed improvement to be the same. That was indeed the case in my kids’ conferences. But if not, then, well, that’s why we have the conferences, to get onto the same page!
So now I go forth, re-focused and re-energized to help my kids improve. I go forth with assurance that my kids’ teachers are focusing on the same improvement areas, and I go forth with determination to mold my kids as best as I can.
As I sign off now, I can see our Nintendo Wii sitting in the corner of the family room. It’s autumn, it’s cold, windy, rainy, and prematurely dark outside. How easy it would be to sit the kids down and let them blast away at each other in a game of Star Wars Lego, or to immerse themselves in a meaningless virtual race of Mario Kart.
I shall resist. Anybody want to go to the YMCA to shoot some hoops or have a swim?
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
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