My daughters' education is really important to me. I have tried to do what I can as a parent to facilitate the importance of learning being imprinted in their young minds. I am no rocket scientist. But over the years I have learned that I am a whole lot smarter, stronger and tenacious than I ever gave myself credit for growing up. I wonder what could have been if I would have believed in myself? What potential I could have tapped? (With that said, I firmly believe it's never too late to turn a new leaf. I don't live in the past.) So when what is coming home from my daughter's school is invitations to test for the gifted program or straight A report cards, I find myself proud of them. Proud of them for taking the wonder of learning seriously. For caring to give their full potential a chance at coming to fruition.
But then I have those moments where my pride is magnified even further, when I realize that my girls are growing not only into good students, but good people. They are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. None of us are. But their cores contain amazing goodness. In them I see people who aren't afraid to march to the beat of their own drum, regardless of what the crowd is doing. I see people who are willing to do the right thing. People who have their priorities, even at this young age, straight.
One night as Justin and I were sitting on the couch, after the girls had gone to bed, we talked about all the ways they were different than other kids their age. Like how Maryn isn't concerned with being popular, she is concerned with being herself and seeking to be a friend to the friendless. She had a tough time last year navigating the social world of school. This year she made the decision all on her own, to go into this year with her head held high. Confident in who she is. It doesn't bother her if girls are dramatic or if her best friends at school are guys. She is comfortable with who she is and what she does.
Brynna wondered out loud one day "Why do people make a big deal out of what you wear? You go to school to learn. It's not a fashion show!" This is the child that fought me on uniforms last year and now loves them. I have had people tell me years ago "Oh wait until they get to those years where all they want is Abercrombie and Justice!" I got sucked into the labels when I was younger and the labels never brought me happiness. I am glad that Brynna is learning that what is important is not what is superficially projected from the outside, but what we are nurturing on the inside. One of her goals this year is to be a STRIVE student. STRIVE is a program at the kids' school that seeks to teach and develop positive character traits. STRIVE students are those chosen out of the student body that exemplify the purpose of the program. I'm glad Brynna knows that it's important to take care of our bodies and our appearance. But what we look like doesn't make us a better person.
One day the girls and I were watching videos about an outreach in India that supports leper colonies in bettering their lives. (Rising Star Outreach) When Maryn was a baby I sponsored one of those sweet kids and yearned to be able to go to India and volunteer. As our family grew and my focus turned to them, that dream grew distant in my mind. So it was really cool, all these years later, sitting there with my daughters watching these videos and seeing the same spark ignited in them. Maryn said it would be good to sponsor one of those kids for Christmas instead of getting a bunch of presents. We talked about how we could develop our talents to help bless the lives of others. We daydreamed of all of us going together someday. That moment made my heart full.
And grateful.
That in a world that tries to pigeon-hole you, define you and tell you who you are supposed to be, I have daughters who are learning to be themselves. To be different in all the right ways.
