He wore his blue mortar board and blue gown with pride. When his name was called, he held his head high and grinned ear-to-ear as the school’s headmaster placed a diploma in his hand. Like all graduates, he’d successfully completed the course of study, but no one needed to ask what his plans were after graduation. When the next school year begins in August, Micah will be in first grade.
As parents and grandparents took pictures, I thought of my longtime friend who questioned why schools held graduation ceremonies for young children. In fact, she hardly recognized her children’s high school graduations because they were expected to graduate from universities and then complete masters’ degrees, and preferably, doctorates. After that, the family would celebrate.
Thirty years ago, I understood my friend’s reasoning, but now I’m glad to celebrate each and every successful step of education. I applauded my Grand as he graduated from kindergarten and his big sister who graduated from 8th grade.
Across our county many graduation ceremonies, ranging from preschool through doctorate degrees,have been held recently. Children can graduate many times, depending on the exit grade of their schools: preschool, kindergarten, 4th grade, 8th grade, high school, Tennessee Tech University.
During graduation ceremonies, speakers congratulate, challenge, inspire, and encourage the graduates. But who does the same for the parents? Why isn’t there a graduation speech for parents?
Congratulations, parents! Enjoy the moment. Breathe deeply. Relax. You did your part. Take a few days off and gloat. Pat yourself and your new graduates on the back. Your children’s successes are your successes.
You fed, clothed, transported, and bought books, paper, pencils, and poster board. You helped your children with school work at home and patiently watched, or did your own work nearby, while they finally figured out how to solve the last math equation.
You wiped tears and hugged. You heard about teachers who gave too much homework and teachers who didn’t grade fairly and friends who weren’t really friends.
Now, challenge your children to continue learning. Show them, by your example that in real life, outside a classroom, there are opportunities to learn. Challenge them to learn something new every day, even though it won’t be on a test.
Read. Read. Read. Read aloud. Read silently. Read together. Read signs and books and newspapers (printed and online) and the back of a cereal box and Lego directions.
Show children that learning is fun. Play games. There’s a fine line between letting children win and squashing children’s confidence by always losing. Let them experience victory and defeat.
Encourage children to try. The quote I kept on my classroom wall read, “It’s okay to try and fail, and try and fail again. But it’s not okay to try and fail, and fail to try again.” Share your successes and failures.
Parents, no matter the age of your graduates, they will always be your children. And they’ll always want you to celebrate with them. So, celebrate all graduations. You’re making happy memories.
Filed under: Celebrate, Children | Tagged: graduation |
Susan Writes 
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