Those Damn Mayan Calendar Makers
2012 is here and if the doomsday people are right then you can stop reading this post. Just enjoy the rest of time between now and the end of civilization.
If however the Mayan’s weren’t perfect at predicting future events and just simply ran out time themselves, or walked away from calendar making to enjoy other aspects of life, then life will go on in 2012 and this is planning time for parents.
The most unfair thing to parents is not only do they have to reflect on the last year, but you have to plan for the next school year.
Here’s a simple truth I’ve come to find over the years. Whatever challenge your child is facing in school the evidence is available to you at this time of year?
My theory about this is simple. Half of the school year is over. The teachers have given you their perspective. You as a parent know if your child is doing their best, or slacking off. Children themselves have found their plans to avoid work have failed. This means you have enough information to make some major decisions, feel good about them, and simply move on with your plan.
Here are three simple questions to ponder before making any changes to your routine, or the current education rhythm of your child.
1. Are you more worried about where your child is on a maturity level, or grade level? To me too much attention is given to grades and too little attention to emotional development. A child may be behind in grades simply because of their age in relation with other children. I believe it is always important to focus more on the maturity level than grades. Do you feel it is time for your child to take on more responsibility? Accountability? Healthy pressures? If yes, then focus more on those changes than grade changes.
2. Is your child in need of help? If yes, do they know this? Or, are they living in a parallel universe? There’s a theory that some people believe strongly in that suggests when we see a problem we should immediately jump in with a solution. The problem with that theory is it doesn’t work. As most psychologist will tell you when someone jumps into solve our problems, even if they’re right, and their intentions are good, we will ultimately resent them. I believe this happens because when someone jumps in to solve our issue, they rob us of the opportunity to find that solution on our own. If your child is in trouble with school and agree they need help then get them help. If they need help, but are in denial then allow them the space to hit their own bottom. When they’re ready for help they’ll let you know.
3. Are you happy with the school? So much of education is about the current environment. Schools are fluid. They change. Great schools become crappy ones. Crappy ones emerge out of darkness to triumph. The real question is are you happy? Are you satisfied? If not then now is the time to start looking at potential changes for the next school year. Don’t wait until summer when the last thing you’ll want to be thinking about is changing schools for your child.
Answers to these three questions will help any parent to reduce stress over what they really need to pay attention to during 2012. I’m pretty sure we’re going to see a 2013 as well.
