I’m sitting in an empty classroom across from my daughter’s teacher. I’m here for Parent Teacher Conferences, but
I’m having a hard time taking it seriously.
I already know my daughter gets good grades. I already know she is not a troublemaker. I already know she manages well
socially. So why am I here? Nevertheless, we begin a methodical
dissection of topics the teacher feels responsible to address. It’s all as expected, and I pay careful
attention to the teacher’s comments because I may as well bask in all the compliments
while I’m here. She even wrote some of
them on a piece of paper and slid it across to me. The first word that popped out to me was in
all caps. “EXCELLENT!” it said. I smiled inwardly to mask my pride. There were other comments written in the
margins and I zeroed in on one in particular.
I slowly processed the words, “Needs some practice with using small dots
of glue.”
I tried not to laugh.
My daughter is 4.
This is preschool. And before she
“graduates” we have to talk about how she holds her scissors, recognizes her
own name and tries to color within the lines.
In spite of the glue debacle, Samantha was deemed worthy to move
on. Certificates were signed, grad hats were
made from styrofoam bowls, a ceremony was held, and my little toe-headed girl in
a blue, flowered dress crossed the preschool finish line with her “diploma” in
hand.
Today my daughter is graduating from Brigham Young
University. We didn’t know it at the
time, but Samantha’s preschool graduation would end up holding more pomp and
circumstance than this quarantined, canceled one. But there’s something I would like to tell
that 4-year-old girl. First, school is
about to get really hard for you. And
you know what? You work your butt off, fight
through it and learn valuable skills that help you all the way through
college. Second, you are about to make
some friends that will exploit you and manipulate you to get what they
want. And you know what? You learn who to trust and how to respect yourself
and you end up with a life full of beautiful friendships. Third, you’re going to have your heart
broken, a few dreams crushed, and your faith tested. And you know what? You’re going to marry the perfect guy for
you, create new dreams, and advocate for God to hundreds of people. Fourth, you’re going to be the most phenomenal
older sister to the best younger brother. He will be your first best friend. Fifth, your parents are going to love you the
whole time. And finally, I want the
world to know how very proficient you will one day become with a bottle of
glue.
Happy College Graduation, baby girl.
