Creative Child Rearing er, Releasing

There are times that parenting calls for the highest kind of creativity. Things are seldom straightforward, particularly once they pass grade school.

Public school, despite all our lip service to the contrary, is one-size fits all. Only those who learn in the visual/auditory mode, who are comfortable in groups, who can accept authority from teachers who may or may not be their intellectual superior, who fit the Judeo-Christian mold (or dominant religion of their community) can thrive. (I use that word advisedly.)

So, my brilliant, opinionated, shy, non-traditional 16 year old high school junior was withering before my eyes. Depressed and slipping further into dark brooding, I feared she was a few steps from suicide. I can't change the whole system. What to do?

Clearly, she has the brains to excel, and clearly she was failing. When we talked about it, she "offered" to drop out. Not an option, I said. So, what to do?

In our state, parents have the right to home school their children. Even though I am a teacher, by education, and had exercised that option in earlier years when health issues interfered with attendance, I was not convinced that it would be appropriate, now. So, I wondered aloud, what about going to college?

"Could I?"

"Let's find out."

So, a little Internet research and we learn that homeschooled students can enter our state college ( the one with the theater program she wants) with a S.A.T. I score of 1050 and certain scores on three of the subject tests. We sign her up for the tests. Bingo, 1250! College, here we come.

To shorten the story, we declared her homeschooled as of the end of the semester in January. She began classes at community college Spring term and is already accepted for entry into University this fall.

I have my daughter back. She's smiling, laughing, eager, again. Being treated like an adult by her professors is a breath of fresh air.

Yes, commuting is stressful. Having so much reading to do is stressful, but it's the kind of challenge she welcomes.

I am thankful we had options.