My Grief with "Awards" Ceremonies

I have finally crossed the end-of-school finish line. These past weeks have been a blur of parties, half days, and stacks of used spiral notebooks covering every inch of my coffee table. Remnants of glue sticks, good-bye notes, and plastic pocket folders are bursting out of the bookshelf in my room, begging me to toss them or try to salvage the madness for next year.

If you have school-age kids, you made it. Grab a cup of something, friend-you deserve it.

I was noticing something as D and I played tag team for the various award ceremonies this past week. It seems that there is an award for everything. EVERYTHING.

He had the “energetic award”.

She had the creativity award, Social Studies award, “A” Honor Roll, and the Art award.

Good night.

As a parent, I get that we want all of our children to feel worthwhile and special. But it seems to me like we give recognition out as if it’s the air our kids need to breathe, and meanwhile on the playground no one can play tag because someone will get “out”.

Do we want our little people to grow into entitled adults who get something for nothing, or are we trying to shape them into big people who work for what they get and sometimes lose?

It’s okay to be last in line.

No, my little beings, you won’t die if you don’t get recognition for having dimples or being cute or being alive.

It’s all right to be tagged out.

You show up to school, small beings, because it's where you learn and grow and figure out how to manage friendships. You work around the house because you live here and because the maid has the rest of her life off.

Something for nothing does not exist in this life.

And while we’re at it, where’s my award for missing work to get to all these assemblies?

I’ll take that mocha iced, please.