My attention has been with my teens this week, I’ve been helping them with their schoolwork so they can finish strong this semester. No doubt fellow parents are experiencing the same “let’s just cross the finish line” feeling while we help educate our kids during a quarantine.
My son was writing a speech about 8th grade promotion and he asked why is it we place such importance on 8th grade? Why the special ceremony? He sees it as just a transition from one grade to another. We don’t do promotion ceremonies for 3rd graders or 9th graders, so why 8th grade? Is it just because we are marking the transition from one campus to another? His speech became one that was originally about celebrating what society deems to be an important event to questioning its significance. I was proud of him for asking the question instead of blindly accepting that 8th grade promotion is to be treated as special because “that’s just the way it has always been done.”
When I was growing up, I was never taught to question anything. I was taught to be quiet, believe what my parents believe, and to do what I was told. Those directions manifested as insecurity during my 20s and 30s, and it wasn’t until my 40s that I learned to trust my inner knowing. As a parent, I encourage my kids to ask questions about what they read and what they’re told, even if it’s me doing the telling. It’s wonderful to hear them asking real questions at a much younger age. My hope is that leads to their ability to trust themselves and their intuition.
Favorite links from the week:
Shades of green are on display in this cute and quirky Victorian.
The world needs more rainbow heart window displays!
The best method for storing fresh herbs.
How fun! DIY tie dye with tissue paper.
Permission granted to eat more and exercise less during quarantine.
Just try to think of this as cutting down on travel time. :)
50 companies that are hiring remote employees.
How to support someone during a hard time. Hint: just listen.
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Speaking of teenagers, have you updated their bedrooms yet? My son is 12 and his room needs a makeover!