During my summer of maternity leave, I've challenged myself to sort out all my possessions and determine what to keep - and what to pitch. It's amazing how much I had amassed. Many of my class notes from high school and college, old movie stubs, stuffed animals. I was saving it for... what, exactly, I'm not sure. It must be a symptom of youth to think that all our relics will matter. Now, I know the truth: they don't.
It's been illuminating to venture back into these periods of my life with the added reflection that comes with having a baby. I look at my education, and think of James following me through the multiplication tables and handwriting classes, through summer camps and vacations. And I fiind myself wondering: what is the point of all this? Why is it that we want our kids to have the best education, the best experiences?
I've thought it over, and I think I may have an answer. It's not as simple as training them to make money, or have a family - those things are relatively easy in the scheme of things. It could be just instilling in them a love of learning, and an appreciation of life. Or, from a more selfish perspective, training them to be a person that we actually want to be around. According to all three criteria, our happy boy is doing well.
