Comforting Report Card

Like a typical parent, I exchange report card contents with other parents. One of the most common line for the teachers to write, I found, is: the kid is so smart and has so much potential, if s/he concentrated more.... I assume, the lack of concentration is commonly expected for kids at or around this age. What is the point of stressing this? Maybe the teachers doesn't want to say "s/he didn't do well enough"; instead they say "s/he could have done better". The effect of such a strategy can be quite comforting for the parents.

In our case however, the ability to concentrate is Sienna's well-known trait. In the report we received last week, Sienna was again praised as "a meticulous and thoughtful girl." My concern is not to nurture the nerd potential. Therefore it's particularly comforting to know that "she is a happy and an extremely polite member of the class. She is able to express her thoughts, needs and feelings to her teachers. She enjoys the company of her peers and truly delights in her interactions with them."

During the conference with the head teacher, I again asked if Sienna likes to talk. The teacher laughed at my question. "She talks a lot," said the teacher. She has to be separated from her best pals to stop her from chitchatting sessions. And she constantly raises her hand to offer answers in the class and has to be remind that there are other kids there. We just love to hear these flaws.

I guess only some parents want their kids to be perfect. Most of us want to make sure they are all-around and well-balanced. A lot of times, that means we have to find our own balance in our head. We don't say anything to Sienna about the report card before and after the conference. We are monitoring and watching. That will have it's effects on the child in every different ways.