My son is 13 today. I remember when he was 12. As a matter of fact, it seems like it was just yesterday.
I’m not sure how the history books will remember my wife and me as parents, but I’m happy with many of the approaches we’ve adopted, and of the kid he has become. I’m a little pissed that he’s starting to know more than I do–especially about history–but it’s fun seeing someone (hell, anyone) still interested in knowledge.
But, man, 13. I was a know-it-all, bragadocious ass at 13. Thank goodness that time has humbled me so, but I hope Anton avoids the many sarcastic, eye-rolling, “you-don’t-know-anything” moments that came out of me once or twice.
So far, so good. He doesn’t mind trying things, entering new circles, owning his rock, and is probably in the top percent of travelers out there. 16-hour drive to Montana, in the back seat, listening to radio or Mom and Dad talk? Nothing. 11-hour flights to Dublin? Child’s play. Of course, one of our great parenting techniques (I can only share SO many) is giving him the incentive of pulled pork after a long drive, or maybe a nice hotel with a pool. Like an incentive.
He’s taught us a lot about education, about what we want for him. Perhaps he’s the reason my wife and I feel the way we do about it now–we actually have some skin in the game. We moved out of the school district we teach in so he could go to a neighboring one (one that has no trouble with enrollment, like I hear many districts in the area are having). I have written previously about his school’s energy on Back to School night and am happy we chose to move, as it was a decision for him. Yeah, he writes summaries in honors classes, and there doesn’t seem to be much homework, but why do people want homework if the kid is learning something?
I wish Anton luck in the upcoming years because my wife and I always are light years ahead of the times when it comes to spotting certain trends. We may not be able to call the next fashion trend, or tell you who will be at the top of the music charts, or even the bestseller’s list, BUT we do know the deal with education these days. And, we have a 13-yr-old, soon to be an 8th-grader.
Mark this down–high school goes on too long, keeping kids in seats for 720 days for seven hours a day. Students need to learn other things. Just saw a former student graduated from Cal. She graduated a year early from high school. Another former student who left after his junior year spent one year at El Camino and will be at Cal next year, as a junior. Did you follow that? He should be a first-year freshman next year, but he’ll be a junior at Cal.
We teach school. We look at Anton. Luckily, thanks to the changing landscape of education, we have options.
Happy birthday, boy. You share your birthday with two people in my life that left this world too soon, and one of them was your biggest champion. I’m sure she would wonder how on Earth you got to 13 so darned fast, too.
Tonight, we feast in your honor.