What I didn’t learn in Kindergarten

  1. How to color well
  2. How to cut straight
  3. How to glue (quickly, effectively, wrinkle-free, and without making a mess)

I didn’t enjoy being the laggard in my kindergarten classes.  But somehow I thought that as I got older and other subjects took the pride of place that coloring, cutting and pasting enjoyed in my kindergarten classes, my poor skills wouldn’t matter so much.

Sigh.  Hellooooooo parenthood: Scissors and gluestick, we must renew our acquaintance.

My daughter’s teacher assured me that of course we should work on her project together.   She could learn by watching me.  As Facebook chatter began to reveal that other parents were beginning to finish up the same project with their kids, I found myself filled with kindergarten angst once again.  What if my picture (display) isn’t as good as the other kids’ (parents’)?  Will the teacher think I’m stupid?

It is pathetic that after 20+ years of schooling I still have something to prove.  Kindergarten angst runs deep.  Here’s hoping that Amelia’s next big project will involve writing Socratic-style dialogues and that I don’t hear the phrase “display board” for a long, long time.

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September 16, 2009 | Filed Under Disability, Education, Parenting, Pity Party 

Comments

One Response to “What I didn’t learn in Kindergarten”

  1. Sharon on September 16th, 2009 2:35 pm

    I’m not sure Socratic dialogue is going to come into play for a few more years.., in the mean time, embrace the “less is more” approach and let good design principles be the guiding force. Then, if your project isn’t quite as slick as others’ you can smugly — I mean serenely — note that it is indeed a child’s work on display. Not that I ever do that.

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