High School.
Maybe you view high school as the best time of your life (or worst). Maybe you can recall the glory days of a simple time–you spent it with your best friends, playing sports, winning games and championships.
Perhaps high school was all about work…
That part-time job to save up for a car, working on getting straight A’s, working on that “high school relationship”…
Maybe high school was (or is) a challenge.
As a parent, you want nothing but the best for your kid (kids). You want to see them succeed. When they hurt, you hurt, when they are celebrating a victory (even as “small” as getting braces off), you celebrate. When they struggle, you struggle.
That’s our word, our life…struggle.
My high schooler is a freshman. Do you remember your freshman year? Did you stress about being accepted or popular? Did you worry about driver’s ed? She worries about things that I would have never dreamed of in high school.
But, she worries. And she gets that honest.
Add in classes, a full schedule, sports (or arts), and the pressures of being a good student, getting good grades, participating and answering questions in class, writing, all the things (do you feel like you are stuck at your locker trying to remember your combination…).
There’s some struggle in high school.
For my daughter, it is the struggle to be “on point” or good 24/7, 365. I don’t mean she struggles with good behavior, I mean she struggles with having a bad day, getting a grade she didn’t want, taking a quiz that she needed to study for a little longer, feeling as if she’s not good enough, smart enough, you get the idea.
Because we’ve all had those feelings. We’ve all struggled.
While times may have changed (and trust me, they certainly have), I understand her ups and downs. I understand her frustrations of being a freshman, of feeling as if she doesn’t fit in, feeling as if she is letting someone down.
But sometimes we have to take on the challenges, put aside our fears, jump the hurdles and tackle the day, week, month, and year.
Despite all of those feelings, perhaps some insecurity at times, I just want her to know she is loved. She is fearfully and wonderfully made. She’s destined to do great things. She’s stronger than she realizes. Despite hearing negative comments, feeling like she can’t contribute, feeling overwhelmed, worrying about driver’s ed, classes, the wrong answer, she is amazing.
We had a conversation about stuff. You know, school, sports, balance.
Seeing her go in during a varsity softball game, my heart burst. I am so proud. (Yesterday I jumped up and then tried to play it cool to snap some pictures) That’s my human. That’s my girl. Seeing her write an amazing essay, my heart swells. She loves to write (and I hope that sticks). She gets frustrated over small things, and I think “that’s my girl.” She gets discouraged and I am discouraged. When she hurts, I hurt.
Girl of mine, you are destined for great, great things. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. Keep your chin up, keep your head up, and keep working. Shoot for the stars. Those struggles you feel now, later in life, you will look back and realize those struggles and hurdles only helped you become the beautiful and amazing person you are…
ILYK.
