Note: This is another one of those posts where I unabashedly fawn over my daughter. I’ll try not to be too sloppy.
“To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while.”
~Josh Billings
Last week was our parent-teacher conference for Mia. As some of you know, Daisy and I send our daughter to a dual immersion program where eighty percent of her day is in Spanish. She’s in first grade now. Last year, that number was ninety.
Daisy and I were keen to hear what her teacher had to say. We felt we had a clear idea, for better or worse, but were looking forward to a dot at the end of our sentence.
Our daughter, it turns out, is quite the the little wordsmith. Her magnificent maestra is pleased when students can line up three well articulated sentences. Mia is penning five paragraph papers… in a second tongue. She has a mature grasp of punctuation, and an apparent fondness for the quotation mark.
Mia isn’t a genius, but she is willing to work hard, and push through most any barrier impeding her comprehension. She’s been drawing, or writing since she could hold a pencil. She is rarely afraid to try, and therefore most often succeeds. For Daisy and I, this is a calliope of validating inspiration.
We’ve known Mia for seven and a half years, if we travel back to when she was no larger than a grain of rice, which I think is perfectly fair. Even then, she was dangling the strings and making us dance.
We were thrilled to have a discussion with an outstanding practitioner who spends the better part of seven hours with our daughter, each and every weekday. At school, Mia is undaunted. She’s fearless, and flies without worry, unafraid to fail, but anxious to produce.
At home, Mia sometimes moves with the mayhem of a tornado, juggling several ventures at once. She twirls from table to table, coloring Christmas ornaments, writing a letter to Santa, all while playing the architect to one of her famous “contraptions.”
It is easy to picture her in the classroom, and we acknowledge our fortune that Mia has a teacher who understands her student and wishes to articulate her productive, capable mind, yet also knows that her enthusiasm must be channeled. Our maestra will help teach Mia to be organized without squelching her spirit.
Mia’s a wonderful writer because she has an example to follow, and for this I am certainly proud, but there is a caveat.
I sometimes juggle topics like a sideshow attraction, and Mia’s a good enough listener to know that I frequently work on many different things at once. I must not only crow about the kudos, I must also look upon the side of the coin that is kissing the ground.
Our children are reflections in a puddle; rippling with an image not quite ours, but no doubt our distant double. To truly know who they are, we must have a clear understanding of who we are. Only then can we walk them toward their best.
Writer Dad
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Writer Dad - What a sweet post. Spoken like a proud father. You’re right, she has great examples to follow.
Barbara Swafford - Blogging Without A Blogs last blog post..When The Green Eyed Monster Strikes In Blogosphere
Outstanding! (Hey, I got first comment! That never happens.)
I would love to meet Mia someday. The way you describe her is wonderful and I bet she and Monkey would make good friends.
“To truly know who they are, we must have a clear understanding of who we are. ” - so true.
Kool Aids last blog post..Welcome Home
I love your last paragraph Sean - what a powerful reminder to us, as parents, that it’s in knowing ourselves that we really, deeply know our children.
And…it doesn’t surprise me one bit that Mia can write beautiful words, and make sentences come alive!
You should be very proud of the little girl you’re raising…
Lances last blog post..Don’t Worry, Be Happy
“We’ve known Mia for seven and a half years…” What a beautiful line. It shows that you see her without ownership, that she’s her own person belonging to herself. You’ve just the blessed joy of guiding her for a while…
So many parents act as if they own their children, which is so restrictive. You and Daisy, on the other hand, are giving little Mia plenty of room to grow, and she will surely fly high!
Julies last blog post..First Guest Post
“Our children are reflections in a puddle; rippling with an image not quite ours, but no doubt our distant double.”
I LOVE that sentence! We certainly DO all need to know ourselves before we can truly mold another into their best form. Well done, Mia, and well done Sean! Eric.
Eric Hamms last blog post..M2A! November Week3: Eat Less, Live Longer?
Mia seems to have a very capable teacher, which is wonderful!
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..The cell phone that wasn’t turned off
This was beautiful, WD. And that last paragraph? Stunning.
Isn’t it great to be proud of our children? It makes us feel that we did something right. Great post.
Our son is being raised with two languages too (Dutch and French) and it’s funny to hear him speak my husband’s language. The earlier they learn… the easier it is.
Mindful Mimis last blog post..EU’s bureaucracy keeps money away from developing countries
I read a quote by Denis Waitley a long time ago and have never forgotten. It goes well with your post. “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” So true, indeed.
jareds last blog post..You Must Do These 3 Things Before You Start Your Exercise Program
It is always nice to hear from others that our children are as wonderful as we think they are.
It’s awesome that she’s reading, writing, and bilingual .
What’s wrong with having more than one iron in the fire (asks the woman who had no less than fourteen projects going at once, and that’s not including quilting, beading, photography, or the ever-present housework)?
Shade and Sweetwater,
K (who is not at al surprised by remarkable Mia)
Kyddryns last blog post..Thoughtfetti
Beautiful post, and I say gush away over that sweet, smart little girl of yours! Well written and touching.
Lus last blog post..Inspired Projects - Paper Planes to Decorate Your Child’s Room
“calliope of validating inspiration”
Ahh, beautiful and perfect. On the riverfront in the Quarter there is a calliope that plays as paddle boats arrive and depart. Lively, celebratory…so apt for your little Mia’s report. I love it.
There’s a book out called the Blessing Of A Skinned Knee. One of the many brilliant things in it( I am not even halfway through) is that if we think of the one most disrupting and often difficult trait our children possess, it will also be the very thing that is their gift. So we are wise to find the best positive channels for it and count it as the blessing it really is.
Mia is blessed with a creative spirit, it sounds like, that goes in many directions. So cool to let her explore.
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Hi Ho Hi Ho
I don’t have children, but I did enjoy your post.
Squawkfoxs last blog post..Squawkback: Do You Tip? How Much?
Mia sounds like my daughter. 1,000 things going at once, yet she knows exactly where she is in all of those at any given time. I have seen her leave something for an hour or two and come right back to where she left off.
Like they say (not really sure who “they” are, but apparently they have some sort of voice that carries over the ages)…”the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Sals last blog post..Don’t Pick Up The Phone!
Barbara: I just need to make sure I’m showing her the right ones.
Kool Aid: I think Mia wants to start her own blog. I told her she could, but all in her own time. Of course, she doesn’t know the word blog. She calls them my computer stories where I make friends with all the people. Less succinct mind you, but I actually prefer her definition.
Lance: Daisy gets credit for the last paragraph. My first draft of this post wasn’t especially good. I was tired, and wanted to watch Iron Man. I wanted a bigger reaction, so I rewrote the last couple of hundred words. It came together with a lot more power. Thanks Daisy, as always.
Julie: Oh, Mia is DEFINITELY her own soul. You can’t list your possessions among your friends, and Mia is most certainly one of my three best.
Eric: Thanks Eric, on behalf of both of us.
Ulla: Her teacher is wonderful. We are very fortunate.
Emily: I say thank you with a lowered brow.
Mindful Mimi: Yes it is, and I say wow to you. Is your son speaking English as well. That is so amazing, and wonderful. You couldn’t be more right. The earlier they learn, the earlier it is. Second languages should ring through the hallways of every school in this country. It is a shame that they do not.
Jared: Thank you Denis, and Jared. That is a wonderful, wonderful quote.
Kyddryn: Nothing, so long as you don’t burn anything, which I admit I sometimes do. But I also know I’m getting better, and sometimes that has to be enough.
Lu: Thanks. Sometimes I can feel the eye rolls when I do, but every father should feel so proud.
Janice: I wouldn’t want it any other way. When Mia is lost in exploration, often so am I. Both of us are lucky that way.
Squawkfox: A high compliment. Thank you.
Sal: I love that expression. It is a bit tired, but that never stopped me from loving my grandpa.
Hi Sean: It’s great that Mia is being exposed to a second language from a young age. I’ve read that children who get that opportunity are able to form more neural connections than most children who are exposed to only one language. I like how you mention that her teacher strives to channel her energy, without breaking her spirit (most teachers err on the side of too much restraint and discipline).
I firmly believe that Mia IS a genius! She is certainly a hard worker too but it’s no ordinary little girl that at 2 tells me which nocturnal animals are her favorites.
Beautiful post. Thanks for sharing.
I wish my children had the opportunity of an immersion program. Lucky her. Instead I will settle for at least Spanish class once a day for my olders, and once a week for my younger.
GreenJellos last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
You know before the age ten , children don’t actually relate foreign language sounds as foreign. Just more sounds to make. The muscles that do those things only start becoming a little more inflexible after ten.
Tigre contra tigre. Try rolling those r’s. Like a purr or a growl. Now ask a 7 year old to do it. If you’re southern it’s easier too.
Okay , how many of you did I get to play?
I am so FOR second languages in schools here in the states. We are put to shame internationally and have been for decades. It’s just silly. Our children can do it while they play and learn everything else, just like sponges.
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Hi Ho Hi Ho
Marelisa: You’re absolutely right. There is no valid reason why we shouldn’t expose our children to more than one language at a time. NONE. And what you said about teachers is a home run landing atop a bulls-eye.
KittyTown: You may call her a genius, and I will smile. If I do it, I’m bragging.
Green Jello: There’s only three schools in our (large) city, all with long waiting lists. We were very fortunate, and it shouldn’t be so hard. It should be as regular an option as sack lunch or cafeteria.
Janice: WORD.
I can sense how proud you are that some day, Mia might follow in your footsteps and become a professional writer. My own daughter has a natural talent for writing too. I couldn’t be more proud.
She has a fondness for question marks, eh?
I think she and my little guy would get along famously. he makes wonderful contraptions. We should arrange a play date. How’s Wyoming?
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..The Lobby or the Lounge
I think that is wonderful that you’re seeing to it that your daughter learns another language.
In all my life, I’ve never heard anyone say: “you know - I really do have a regret… “Oh yeah, Charlie, what is it?”
“Well, you know - I’m bilingual because my parents saw to it when I was young that I become proficient in another tongue.”
“That’s terrible Charlie.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Doesn’t happen.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..Choose NOT To Get on The Negativity Train
Hi again,
For the moment my son speaks mainly Dutch (being in contact with that language through me and my parents the most) and French (via his dad and daycare). He is 2 and a half and when he goes to kindergarten next year he will learn Luxembourgish (the official language of Luxembourg where we live). Later in primary school, classes are mainly taught in German and French is taken up as a first foreign language (so he will have an advantage on other kids there). Later on in high school English is added. I went through this system myself and speak now 7 languages. I must admit I also have a ‘language brain’ and my brother, who is more of a mathematics/technical brain is less eloquent in languages - still he gets by.
We go with the OPOL system (one language one parent) - I have written about it
Mindful Mimis last blog post..EU’s bureaucracy keeps money away from developing countries
<a href=”http://mindfulmimi.blogspot.com/2007/09/on-raising-bilingual-children.html” title=”here”
Mindful Mimis last blog post..EU’s bureaucracy keeps money away from developing countries