Awesome Kids

Recently, I shared my story about trying to discover why my daughter has problems learning with a group of friends.

For months, I have been processing, thinking, rethinking, and overthinking this whole thing.  Am I overreacting?  Am I just imagining this?  Should I involve the public school?  Should I seek private testing?  Is this all really necessary?  And just saying it all out loud, asking for prayer for the whole situation...it just broke open a dam.  It revealed a line of thought I didn't even know was in my head:

"I just want my kids to be awesome!"

I said this aloud and heard it myself for the first time.  Lightbulb!

What parent has ever looked at their child and thought to themselves, "I just want my child to be average.  I'll be happy with that."  How about, "If my child is awful at everything, that would be fine."  Or: "If my child never succeeds at anything, that would be o.k. with me."

Doesn't that sound ridiculous???

Every parent I know does everything they can to help their children become AWESOME.

Have you watched The Gabby Douglas Story on Netflix?  Her single mom and her siblings made a lot of financial sacrifices to help Gabby continue lessons and training, and her pursuit of the Olympic dream.  Why?  Because they knew this was what she was born to do.  This was her purpose in life.  And her family did everything they could to help her get there.  To achieve her dreams.  To reach her God-given potential.

Every parent I know does the same with their kids.  If they do well in elementary school, I see Facebook posts about being in Spelling Bees, Math Olympics, and science fairs.  Jr. High and High School follows with posts about band competitions, gymnastics and track meets, swim and debate team trophies and theatrical performances, followed by SAT scores and college acceptance letters - these shine as stars in the sky of our children's lives.

And we, as parents, do everything in our powers to help them reach these defining moments.

A child who excels in science may win the science fair, which could eventually lead her to become the scientist to who discovers the cure for cancer or the solution to world hunger.

A child who swims the fastest and wins medal after medal may become the next Michael Phelps.  Perhaps the teamwork, leadership, and drive learned while on the swim team will lead to greater things - your child may become a CEO, a political leader, or an influential businessman.

In the past, I have struggled to understand why parents would go to 2-3 practices a week and games on Sundays for any sport or activity.  I thought it was about goals parents failed to meet in their own lives, and helping their children reach these goals somehow fulfill parents' dreams.  Then I thought, "Maybe it's about bragging rights."  But that wasn't it.  Sometimes I wonder if every parent who puts their kids in sports at age 3 thinks their child is one day going to be a Pro athlete or an Olympian.  Chances are very slim that either of those goals will be reached, but somebody out there has been born with natural athletic talent. 

They must think, "Why couldn't it be my child?" 

The moment I blurted out, "I just want my kid to be awesome!," I finally understood.

We ALL want our children to be AWESOME, and we are going to do everything in our power to help them get there.  

Right now, for me, that means getting my child tested.  After a diagnosis, I hope to learn how to teach her in a way she understands.  We will work hard and long, but I think this great effort will be worth it.  Who knows what she will be when she grows up?  When she graduates, I want to tell her, "Go for it!  No limits.  Just be awesome!"

I know she, and every other child, has the potential to be awesome.

It has to do with how they began.

"For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

 I praise you [God] because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well."

Psalm 139:13-14