Lessons.....

"The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson."

Tom Bodett

I found this quote, and it just struck a cord with me. With school starting this week I thought it very apropos. My children have been really excited to get back to school. I am not sure if it was because they were looking forward to the lessons they were about to learn in English, science and math or about seeing there friends (of course my guess is the later). They will learn the basic education we all had to, but (in my opinion)  will also experience very important life skills. 

I have found already in the short 3 days that school has been in session that these high school years build the foundation for where you are going to end up. The pressure to go to the “right” college and make the “right” decision about what you want to do in the future is so overwhelming! In 1987 I graduated from high school and in 1992 I graduated from college and I can honestly say that today, 21 years later, I barely know what I want to do!!!!  

We pressure our 17 and 18 year olds to really figure it out! What is wrong with that picture? Maybe too many expectations? What makes adults think that our high school children should make decisions about their future knowing that when we were their age we could not?  Maybe we need to let go? Just a thought. 

I know that for me, I graduated with a BA in Communications. The certification that I received gave me validation in my life. I did what I was “supposed” to do! The diploma never really did anything for my career. I never really went out to pursue a “career”; I had to invent one for myself. My children had to come first and I also needed to make a living, hence I became an entrepreneur. My life has been a series of trying new things and seeing what happens. 

Luckily I have many faith and hope! I know that if I throw enough stuff up against the wall something will eventually stick. 

Along my journey to find that perfect “job”, I have learned more lessons that I could have ever learned in a text book or in a classroom! I have learned that you can’t take anything personally. We are all on a journey to find healthy and happy lives. Along the way, I will fall down, but I have found that I have learned so much more on my way up from a fall then I ever did falling!!! 

Fear is a feeling and not reality. 

I am going to take my own advice with my children, as hard as it is. They have their own path and I am not the director of the path. They need to go and fall and pick themselves up. My life experiences will help them in some ways, but they will never learn if I am constantly trying to direct them. In the end we will both resent each other. 

So here is to a hands off parenting to my teenagers. I hope I did a good job raising them to know what is right and wrong and beyond that, I will be here to love them and know that yes, life is hard, but in the end it is all worth it!!! 

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