From 3rd Grade to College

“I’m practically in college, you know - I’m in the 3rd grade now, Daddy!” he reminded me as we drove home last night. He wants to grow up so fast. Just 12 hours earlier I had dropped him off in front of the school for his 1st day of this new school year. And once again, I found myself fighting back tears as I offered a quick prayer of Thanks for the greatest gift the Good Lord has blessed me with – a son!

Slow down the bus – Didn’t I just last week watch his kindergarten graduation ceremony? Wasn’t I just filling a sippy-cup with his favorite orange drink the week before? I swear I picked up a diaper from a corner of his bedroom just last month!

Where did those years go? Why must his childhood fly by so quickly? Later, as we settled into a big chair together for some reading, he handed me the book he’d picked out for the evening. A book about dinosaurs and a magic bus. His fascination with dinosaurs has outlasted Barney ( Thank the Good Lord ), The Wiggles, and the Power Rangers ( a triple Thanks to the Big Guy upstairs ).

I know our reading time together will someday – far too soon for my liking – be yet another pleasant memory. Meanwhile, I hope I can instill in him a love of reading and a yearning for more. I hope he will always have a fascination with something! I hope we can sit down together and do his homework for the evening without even the slightest objection or complaint. I hope he will settle into a habit of studying a little each day. Of reading and writing a little each day.

I hope he will grow to accept daily homework as a normal part of growing up. I hope he will succeed at learning whatever sparks an interest in that wonderful little mind of his. If your little one is just embarking upon his or her journey in education you might enjoy some simple and easy homework tips!