Last week marked my daughter’s first foray into high school final exams. Seems like just yesterday I was worried about scraped knees, play dates and the right nursery school for her. Where did the time go?
Everyone said it would go so fast — that whirlwind of child-raising — from diapers to prom. So periodically I asked myself “Is it going fast?” And each time I answered no, it’s “just creeping along.” But this year, her first year in high school has put it all in perspective. Yes, it is going fast — very fast indeed!
Essentially, we have three years before she leaves us for a bigger world of books and life learning. We have three years to impart our last vestiges of ethical and moral rights and wrongs. I have the urge to “cram it all in,” but in truth, I already have. It started from birth.
This week marked her first official “teen party” at a community center. I was warned about the alcohol and drugs, and we had a talk before and after. She was not as verbal about it as I would have liked — making me wonder what exactly did she see or not see? But all I can do is wonder. And hope. And wait. And see. When tested, how will my daughter choose to maneuver her way through her next life passage?
As for those high school exams, they started with a parent information session that lasted at least 2 hours. There were then several sessions of learning to take tests and subject coaching. Next, but not least, was learning the valuable art of time organization, which did not fare so well. A tough nut to crack is a 14-year-old girl who sees the weekend as one big chill. Using a planner and building in enough time to tend to the tasks of studying is paramount. This year is her first year with grades and words like “GPA.”
Now we head into the second semester hit hard with the first semester grades and a bout of scholastic reality. The stakes are so much higher now, in and out of school. I hear the “tick tick tick” of a giant college application clock pounding in my ears. I hope my daughter hears it too, but I don’t think so — at least not now.
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