Graduations etc.

On Saturday, my oldest child got her Masters of Education degree.  She has worked long and hard to achieve that.  In the audience, her parents, in-laws, infant daughter, grandmother and siblings all cheered her on.  It was a glorious day to celebrate a huge achievement.

Over lunch, we discussed a unique family tradition that has been established.  Grandma earned a masters.  Mom earned a masters.  Daughter has earned a masters.  It's not often that three generations of women in one family would  all achieve this high level of education.  I hope my daughter's daughter will earn one of her own someday.  I hope I am sitting in the second row of prime balcony seats to see that happen. 

One of the doctoral candidates wrote their dissertation on parent's expectations for their children prenatally.  I would love to read the summary of that document.  We had a discussion out on the lawn after the commencement about that. I don't know what is "normal", but as a young couple we certainly began thinking about that very early and I know that these new parents began thinking about it very early.   We did discuss it before she was born.

I believe that parental expectations drive the achievement of the children.   I am glad that the three who are out of the nest understand that there is more to learn and experience than what is presented in high school.  Life long learning is a good thing, but there is one more thing I hope they learn out there.

Mitch Albom delivered the commencement address at the U this year.  His key point was that we will probably spend much of our early adult years earning and getting, but what matters most at the end of a life, is the giving.  Usually commencement addresses are forgotten in the moments leaving the stadium.  This one was important.  In all their seeking, and earning and getting, I hope they also remember the giving.  It's not what you get, it's what you give.