It's bad enough the computer age is passing me by. I mean, I can blog, which is something, but don't start talking IP this or tell me to just "...open up my PC and add some more RAM". I will NOT be happy. So there's that. I can't even text on my stupid Blackberry. I think that's what it is. I pay a LOT every month just to make calls and have access to the internet on my phone, and never...I repeat...never use it. I have a computer with a big screen at home on my desk. I can check the entertainment news when I get home. I don't need to do it while driving the car.
Good grief.
But now we're gearing up for high school. The paperwork and course selection process nearly put me six feet under. Not only did I think my daughter was being overly ambitious, but when did high school become, so...well, difficult! I have fond memories senior year of coming home by noon and lathering baby oil all over me so I could get a skin cancer tan baking in the lounge chair and listening to rockin' 80's tunes. (Search "Rock Lobster" by the B52's on your Blackberry now). I just don't remember being overwhelmed with the fact that I'd probably have 3 hours of homework every night.
Did I and just not do it? I was an okay student. I mean, I could have tried harder. But in popular fashion, I'll blame family problems on my lack of focus. I don't think there is an expiration date on that one, is there? Anyhoo, last night I went to a meeting on AP classes and a program similar to an IB program at Mal's future high school.
All I can say is I'm pretty sure when the principal started talking...someone propped me up from information overload. I'm telling you! I thought I was going to some 30 minute spiel and I was there for 1.5 hours with 20 pieces of paper in hand! It was really great, actually, and I got super excited about the opportunities my daughter is being presented with here. I'm in awe of how driven she is at such a tender age. The excitement of learning and figuring out what direction you want your life to take. Life is at her fingertips. In this day and age, you grab it now, or your stomach will be growlin' later and it'll be tougher to come by. PLUS -- she could take some of these classes and save us a ton of money.
And then there is the laying out by the pool. (Well, first we'd have to get one...I hear K Mart has them.) Tricky to know how to strike a balance in all of this. I realize this tale was very telling in the fact that we all know I'm not a rocket scientist today. And yet, I don't think my daughter would be disappointed if she turned out like me. (Albeit skinnier with less sun damage). But still, it'd be okay. And then there is the mother who doesn't want her children to make the same mistakes she did. TAKE the chance. WORK harder. BE better. SEIZE the day.
I'm sure she'll find her way through this with or without my help. But I still need her to hold my hand. Road sign: Beware: Curves ahead. Driver pay attention!
4 comments:
Oh, Rock Lo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-bster brings back some good mems. And you were queen of sunbathing. I'll give you that.
Yeah, high school for our kids is going to be so much different. Homework? Reading? Writing? What are those things? I thought we went to high school so we could sneak off to lunch w/friends...
You and your Blackberry just made me feel very good - I can honestly say I feel your pain. My cell phone is about 7 years old and I wouldn't know how to text message on it even if it could (but mind you, I use the fire out of those minutes every month). However, I CAN do some serious blogging on the laptop though!
You made it through the AP meeting--and you didn't even send Dave! WAY TO GO! Sarah did not make it into the charter school during the lottery. In some ways we were relieved because of some of the scheduling challenges that it would have entailed. In other ways we are disappointed. But overall: we felt more peaceful about not getting in. So now she is getting excited to go to the closer high school and we will register for all of those AP classes this week! :)
I enjoyed B-52's back in the day too. (Prior to my country bumpkin days.) :) And I grew up in Florida, so I was all about the laying out in high school as well. We moved to Colorado the summer before my senior year and that's when I got my only 4.0 during my high school career. There were too many distractions back in my Florida days, I'm afraid.
My daughter will be starting junior high next year and I'm a bit nervous. Her dad is already having to help her with homework as it is. I'm good at blogging, but not so good at the ol' homework help.
And how is it that I didn't notice that you posted these two posts until today?! Sorry I missed the boat earlier.
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