Just Too Slow…

My 8th grader has been under the weather for the past  3-4 days, which consequentially held him hostage at home and in bed. My kid has always been energetic and the longest he’s been down like this has been a day or so. The beauty of the school he attends is that he’s always connected and capable of keeping up with assignments and tests.

Today he felt somewhat better. What has been top of mind is deciding what kind of HS my son should attend in the fall. My son is in favor of Homeschooling so he will have more time to practice piano or perhaps attend an arts school. I’m big on a brick & mortar school with excellent academics  where he will make friends and discover all sorts of things he might not experience if he attended a specialty school or is Homeschooled. My mind was set on him moving more toward an Ivy League school to create a happily ever after. My feeling is we can continue as we have been doing for the past 4 years…have him in school during the week, music conservatory on Saturday’s, private lessons and practice during the week. During the summers, have him attend a variety of summer programs to expose him to things he wouldn’t necessarily do throughout the year.

Well, when I got home from work this evening, I discovered my son had taken it upon himself to apply to Julliard and Curtis this afternoon. He wants to be homeschooled to complete his high school education and attend Curtis in tandem. I do believe that if he were homeschooled, he could finish High School within 2 years since he’s already taken Algebra and is currently taking Geometry. His current school has him reading and learning all sorts of the classics most people don’t read until HS or never at all.

As all parents, I want his life to be better than mine and to truly be a contributor to the world. I want him to be happy, healthy and able to support a family when the time comes…ideally when he’s in his early 30’s.

I’m slowly coming around and realizing that God has his plan for my son’s life and it’s up to me to help guide and facilitate him to achieve his goals to the best of my ability. He’s got his mind made up and is taking steps to create the educational experience he thinks would be ideal for him.

I don’t want him to be that person who has a nervous breakdown as he’s walking to accept his diploma at Harvard for his medical degree or MIT getting his graduates degree. I look around and so many young people are deeply in debt with no job that pays well enough for them to move out on their own.

He’s my only child and I have one chance to get it right. I’m going to allow him to follow his path and support him to the best of my ability. I just think it’s so comical that he’s filling out college applications in 8th grade.