I'm late for writing Five-On-Friday since it's Saturday, but I'm doing it anyway. Amy's blog party is open to join until Monday after all, so I don't think she'll mind. You can pop over and see what others are posting at Love Made My Home
One. Still Sorting Out: I'm taking 5 minutes to talk about sorting through our children's stuff and sometimes seeing what was there all along. During their growing up years, I had to limit the things I kept for my three daughters by putting the 'best' in a box for each of them, which they received when they were older. At that time, I found I couldn't part with the oldest daughter's handmade Kindergarten Christmas decorations and a paper from each of the younger girls, so I kept them for myself. I came across the two papers while cleaning out my desk. Looking back at their early writing styles, I'm amazed at what their writing tells about the adults the two youngest girls would become.
Two. Middle Daughter's first grade paper: When she was six, there didn't seem to be much hope for Middle Daughter when it came to spelling. I'm not showing this to embarrass her, but to give hope to all you other mothers of children who aren't natural spellers!
Middle Daughter graduated college with a degree in English with University Honors, studying more the technical writing side of English. She writes highly technical documents, first with a major telecommunications company and then for the last three years with a large computer systems company. I am totally confused when she tries to explain the work to me.
You can see below that even at six, she wrote in a no nonsense - just the facts - technical style. See if you can read her first grade paper...Please note she did try to use punctuation though it's hard to tell if those are periods or commas.
Three. Younger Daughter's Note To The Tooth Fairy: Younger Daughter graduated high school at 16 and went to Argentina (at that young age) as a foreign exchange student. I cried the whole time she was gone. She graduated college with a degree in English with writing honors for her poetry. Obviously, she tended toward the creative writing side of English while pursuing her degree.
As I understand it, her work now involves tracking projects, but she's able to use her creative writing skills to write publicity releases, reports and speeches for the president of the large company where she works.
Around age six, when she didn't have her tooth to put under her pillow, she wrote the Tooth Fairy on card stock using both sides, with a pretty blue marker for flair and using no punctuation, but lots of creativity.
Four. Needless Worry: I've always gotten quite a kick out of these two pieces of writing, and I truly cherish them. Somehow, until just recently, I never related their early writing style to the adult writers they've become. I do remember how much I despaired over Middle Daughter's lack of spelling skills when she was in first grade, and I see now it was all for naught!
Truthfully, when I look back at my life I realize most of the worrying I did was useless. What will be, will be!
This is the saying I now try to live by:
"Worry Is Interest Paid On A Debt Not Yet Due"
Five. A Link, Dr Spock, And We 'C' Students: While looking for inspiration on the web this week, I happened upon this post about how not all students should be A students. That post got me into all this thinking about life...and grades...and worry.
It also made me think of the great baby specialist, Dr Benjamin Spock, who wrote the best-selling baby book of all time.
| Benjamin Spock | |
|---|---|
.jpg) |
Who knows which way we should go? Too much studying or too little? What I know for sure is that I could've used that Dr Spock reference to defend my own sad high school grades.
Thanks for dropping by!
Great post and I thoroughly agree with Spock, and as for spelling, I've always said it's a very narrow mind that can only conceive of one spelling for a word. And God bless auto correct.
ReplyDeleteI love it. Most of my grands are excellent students. One is an 'artist' and could care less about grades---very smart but would rather indulge in the art practices. lol I was worried but the child but realize that self-confidence will carry long past the A grades in life.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest daughter was/is VERY literal. One time they were asked what the adage "the early bird gets the worm" meant. She said-That means that the first bird up gets the first worm that comes out. If you are a bird you should get up early. If you are a worm you should get up late. We have had a few good laughs at her expense over the years.
Have a great rest of the weekend. xo Diana
I think that daughter's worm philosophy is brilliant.
DeleteAnother great post.
ReplyDeleteI love this and I think that grades are highly overrated.
I know some scholars who are fools and I know other people who never attended college and yet I consider them brilliant.
I adore your girls writing. Very endearing and sweet.
:D
xoxoxo
It was interesting to see how different the styles and such of each of your daughters, it resonated with me as I have three daughters who were also quite different in their approach to study and yet have all been to University and gained degrees.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this! I want to share with the young mamas in my life - it is hard not to worry your child is doing "good" - Your daughters did very well for themselves. I love the quote from Dr. Spock too. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteOh, to have their childhood notes to smile and ponder - so sweet!
ReplyDeleteI love looking at the couple of papers I saved from my children's school days too. We do worry needlessly, don't we? And that article! Spot on! Why do we put so much pressure on kids to beA students? Not all are A students or even meant for college. We need service people too. Nothing wrong with those jobs. Ok, rant over! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a gentlemans C! What a great response. I think that we have got too obsessed about these things in some ways, especially in young children, surely better for them to make some mistakes and have a go than do nothing at all. Glad that your daughters are having such successful careers that they are enjoying!
ReplyDeleteYep, yep!! I agree. My son, who failed several subjects...I was in despair. Now, he has a PhD in History and is a professor at a college. Who would've guessed?
ReplyDeleteI have qualms of Dr. Spock...he's the one that told parents to be their child's best friend? I think a lot of the misdeeds and bad manners of kids today are a product of this way of thinking. You can't be a parent AND a best friend when nurturing them. Maybe in later years after you are being the disciplinarian...well, enough of my rambling.
Oh, this is wonderful! I agree that we should all strive to be 'C' students so we can learn not only from textbooks, but also from life. I had no problem reading your daughter's writings. I think all Mothers have learned to decode 'child-speak'! haha! I think it is amazing that they were able to write so well phonetically at such a young age! They stopped teaching phonics when my children were young and I had to teach them on my own. I loved Dr. Spock - he was my bible when raising my kids. He had such a common sense approach. I think my kids turned out pretty good with his more gentler approach. They are all very kind and compassionate....It is so bittersweet to go through those little memory boxes, isn't it? It is so heartwarming to look back at their first writings and know it was the beginning of their life-long inspiration. It's lovely to feel that sense of gratification that they have found their calling and you were there to steer them in the right direction. Sending hugs xo Karen
ReplyDeleteI never made excellent grades always just made it through any class haha
ReplyDeleteI have made it through life with a grade of B+ also however still striving for a better grade on my finish.
I kept all of my kids little art works also and a few years ago passed it onto them and said do what you want with all these treasures and works of art.
What a beautiful reminder to not needlessly worry. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhoops it published before I was ready. :) Sugar I wanted to thank you.Your words were and are such a comfort. Franz has rallied a bit and we have taken advantage of this special time.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week!
Laura
You should frame those some day and give them to your daughters to hang on their walls in their offices! What a statement they would make!
ReplyDeleteCindy
I've really enjoyed this post! Those notes written by your daughters are so cute and brought back memories of notes my two daughters wrote, way back then. Makes me want to go search. I kept one note that my youngest daughter wrote, in my recipe box. I never made good grades in school, in fact, just barely got by. My sister was very smart and daddy bragged and praised her all the time. I felt very inferior to her...like she could be the only smart one in the family.
ReplyDelete