Am I the Only One Thrilled to Have an Average Child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of parents would do well to accept that their child is an individual with their own interests and talents. They don't have to be mirror images of their parent to be successful. Success is merely in the eye of the beholder.

Pie in the sky stuff, with all due respect. You cannot deny the American economy is changing and there are going to be those without the right skills. Just read in the Post this morning about the long term unemployed will probably be the permanently unemployed. I really don't want Dc to be on the wrong side of this divide. DC doesn't have a trust fund or even much of a safety net. My job to explain to them how the world works. I don't want DC in the future years to say Hey you never explained to me how being a slacker during my college years could negatively affect my life! I have actually heard friends say their kids have complained that they didn't push them hard enough. All about finding the right balance I guess.

[Anonymous]

You stated you spent tons of money on private tutors. If you were really thrilled to have an average student you wouldn't have spent the money. You would let him have C's with a couple if B's and D's. Why post about your lazy kid who got into college because you had the money to boost his grades up. Come back in a year and post when he fails freshman year after you paid 50,000 to an OSS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your child is so not average.

+1 OP lives in a bubble. She also probably thinks 250k HHI is "middle class"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You stated you spent tons of money on private tutors. If you were really thrilled to have an average student you wouldn't have spent the money. You would let him have C's with a couple if B's and D's. Why post about your lazy kid who got into college because you had the money to boost his grades up. Come back in a year and post when he fails freshman year after you paid 50,000 to an OSS.

Did you read the part about the merit scholarships?

Jealous much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of parents would do well to accept that their child is an individual with their own interests and talents. They don't have to be mirror images of their parent to be successful. Success is merely in the eye of the beholder.

Pie in the sky stuff, with all due respect. You cannot deny the American economy is changing and there are going to be those without the right skills. Just read in the Post this morning about the long term unemployed will probably be the permanently unemployed. I really don't want Dc to be on the wrong side of this divide. DC doesn't have a trust fund or even much of a safety net. My job to explain to them how the world works. I don't want DC in the future years to say Hey you never explained to me how being a slacker during my college years could negatively affect my life! I have actually heard friends say their kids have complained that they didn't push them hard enough. All about finding the right balance I guess.

OP here.

I agree that it is all about finding the right balance. You really have to do what's best for your child's temperament. And they do need to have a realistic view of the world. I was a slacker and wasn't pushed but ended up A-OK without being stressed and stretched to the limit as an adolescent. (In fact, I used to struggle with being called an overachiever. I felt I was anything but! Then I realized those people were talking about who I am NOW. They didn't know me in HS and college. ) I'm thrilled my son had the same experience. I'm thrilled he actually had an enjoyable CHILDHOOD that wasn't overscheduled in the hopes that he'd be a matured man by 15.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your child is so not average.

+1 OP lives in a bubble. She also probably thinks 250k HHI is "middle class"

Perhaps I should have entitled this "Am I the Only One Thrilled that My Child is Not a Superkid"?

Nothing wrong with superkids...I wouldn't mind having one. But that's not my kid. And I'm so glad about it. I love my silly, laid back, smart dumpling.

I think we should all embrace what we have.

The truth is, I'm quite certain he'll end up in the same place as a super kid. He's just not going to break a sweat getting there. Just like his mama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You stated you spent tons of money on private tutors. If you were really thrilled to have an average student you wouldn't have spent the money. You would let him have C's with a couple if B's and D's. Why post about your lazy kid who got into college because you had the money to boost his grades up. Come back in a year and post when he fails freshman year after you paid 50,000 to an OSS.

FAILING student and typical teenager are two different things.

[Anonymous]

DS is wonderful, smart, funny, socially adept but somewhat lazy both academically and personally. He half-asses his chores; his cleaning never measures up to my standard of cleanliness. He gets good grades but won't overexert himself. AP? What's that? IB? Why?

Sorry, this would bother me. I don't care if my child goes to an Ivy, a state school, a community college, or becomes a firefighter, chef, policeman, whatever. But I want him to find an interest, and work at pursuing it, and not just do things half-assed and be lazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DS is wonderful, smart, funny, socially adept but somewhat lazy both academically and personally. He half-asses his chores; his cleaning never measures up to my standard of cleanliness. He gets good grades but won't overexert himself. AP? What's that? IB? Why?

Sorry, this would bother me. I don't care if my child goes to an Ivy, a state school, a community college, or becomes a firefighter, chef, policeman, whatever. But I want him to find an interest, and work at pursuing it, and not just do things half-assed and be lazy.

Oh trust me. It's bothersome and annoying. Moreso early on than now. But he's probably just going to be that kid with the messy dorm room. Then when he's writing the checks for the rent and furniture keeping them orderly will become more important to him.

And I consider art an interest. His portfolio has gotten him some pretty generous scholarship money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You stated you spent tons of money on private tutors. If you were really thrilled to have an average student you wouldn't have spent the money. You would let him have C's with a couple if B's and D's. Why post about your lazy kid who got into college because you had the money to boost his grades up. Come back in a year and post when he fails freshman year after you paid 50,000 to an OSS.

Did you read the part about the merit scholarships?

Jealous much?

Why would anyone be jealous of an average kid? I'm guessing average children get merit scholarships

[Anonymous]

I see management roles in his future. He will be the manager of those with high IQ and low EQ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You stated you spent tons of money on private tutors. If you were really thrilled to have an average student you wouldn't have spent the money. You would let him have C's with a couple if B's and D's. Why post about your lazy kid who got into college because you had the money to boost his grades up. Come back in a year and post when he fails freshman year after you paid 50,000 to an OSS.

Did you read the part about the merit scholarships?

Jealous much?

Why would anyone be jealous of an average kid? I'm guessing average children get merit scholarships

People become jealous of any and everything--especially of those who can afford to "spend tons on private tutors". Envy about average children getting merit scholarships while you shuck out $50,000? Jealous you can't even consider OOS schools for your kid due to the tuition? Sorry but that post reaked of venomous envy. There's no reason to be so blown out of shape over a typical teenager.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see management roles in his future. He will be the manager of those with high IQ and low EQ.

+100

[Anonymous]

With a background in art, in addition to whatever creative he wants to do, he can also get into design for gaming and design for websites. Learning UI/UX and a little bit of coding could be plenty in terms of career path.

[Anonymous]

And I consider art an interest. His portfolio has gotten him some pretty generous scholarship money.

Oh, so do I. But you didn't make it clear that art was something he was working hard to pursue, you just stated that he had talent in it and was going to major in it, which are different, IMO. If he works hard at art, that's great.