I know that during this month many of you will have the honor of attending the graduation of perhaps your preschooler, your high school student, or maybe even your university daughter or son. I know what you will be feeling. I have been there myself many times, and each time, although I think I am prepared emotionally, I am overwhelmed with waves of tearful joy and amazement.
I am amazed at how quickly the time has passed and joyous at the juncture and at the achievement of my child. Proudly we watch as they graduate to yet another plateau, another level in their development and journey in this life experience. Sadly and with nostalgia, we often conjure the vision of that baby we had, that little toddler, that youngster who first bawled, then crawled, then stood on its own two feet and took off, away from us and towards the independence we knew was coming and had trained it for.
There is truly nothing like it, nothing at all that can match that feeling of pride and of completion, that in spite of obstacles, the work has been done and your child has matriculated and is moving up. In this day of overwhelming competition and vocational uncertainty, there is little doubt that graduations are necessary; that continuing to be educated is paramount and that our children need to “aim high.”
We must be there along the way, to encourage, assist, tutor, and advise. There is little doubt that our job is ongoing, and that education begins at home, in the womb, in the nursery, in the house, and that we are the first and foremost teachers of our children. We set the tone, we create the priorities. We either give them confidence and direction or we don’t and they flounder. It is not someone else’s job. It is ours. Our children will only succeed if they are encouraged from the beginning by us, their parents, and informed from the start that success in every way is their destiny.
Congratulations to all of you who in these weeks will sit and watch your children collect their diplomas, their proof that they have completed another level on the steps to adulthood and its inherent responsibilities. Snap your photos as we all do, but also take the time to really look at the ritual, to really look at your child and at all his friends, also moving up, who you also have watched grow to this point. Then, congratulate yourself as you congratulate them. It is your achievement as well as theirs. It’s a huge job to be a good parent. I know.
Have a great month. Thanks for reading.
