End of School Days

Wow! The last week of school is a magical time. All the work from the classroom comes home, music programs to be seen and heard, award assemblies, pizza parties, plays, year books. Our days were already pretty much a full sprint, now this. Wow!
My middle schooler has finals the last two days. A far cry from my middle school days. I recall lots of mischief and plans for ditching, free for alls involving water balloons and squirt guns a near complete lack of discipline. Not now. I think that's a good thing. Our Schools are really focus on packing content into available instruction hours.
My first grader who has had a very difficult time adjusting to the structure and rigor of the classroom since pre-school has really turned it around. Finishing the year with a citizenship award and a straight A honor roll birth. The second grader vastly improved reading scores and really picked up math skills.
It's an awesome thing to sit down with your kid and tell them how proud you are of them.
I have taken several moments with all of my children individually and together to recap this school year list of achievements.
My favorite saying is; "no deposit no return" I'm not talking about soda can redemption. I use it to drive home the fact that work done today brings dividends tomorrow. A commitment to a goal requires action sustained over time. Cause and effect.
It's been a wonderful opportunity to celebrate success. Each and every child has broken barriers, increased his/her awareness, mastered some skill, built memories and increased capacity and potential. Maybe my perspective is influenced because I'm their Dad but (I think) the conclusion is inescapable; I held the bar high and my expectations higher. They rose to the challenge. They're my hero's
Today the young ones board a flight to go see their Mom for the summer. I'm yearning for a break, but I'm going to miss them. I get to take my oldest to adventure camp at Seaworld in a few days. I wish I was going with her. Camp at 12 Wow!