Balancing Moms on the Rise!

Hill Veteran Kristin Wells Joins Patton Boggs' Renowned Public Policy Team

Teachable Moment

Second grade home-work came down on me like a ton of bricks. Yes, you read that right. It came down on ME - as I was frantically trying to figure out the magic formula to getting home from work only to be faced with home-work assignments that had me asking Princess incredulously, on an almost daily basis: "didn't they teach you how to do this at school?"
I would approach the home-work process begrudgingly, leading to much frustration for me and Princess (and even hubby once he got home as I would immediately let him know just how much he was NOT contributing to this process).

Then at the end of second grade, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head - the money I pay the school for my daughter's education does not take the place of my active parenting. I needed to change my attitude about this process. So at the end of second grade I headed to bookstores, picked up summer bridge activities and brainquest workbooks, downloaded and printed numerous online materials from the math playground and started our "home, home-work" (as we fondly call it). Princess and I started having "bonding time" around academic activities all summer and throughout the school year. Princess is now soaring academically and consistently approaches her work with a positive attitude and a willingness to try new things.

Last weekend Princess wrote an essay - and shared that one of her favorite activities is spending time at night with her mom doing "work". When I asked her why, she responded - "it's because I get to learn in a fun way and spend time with you." And just like that I was reminded - life (and parenting) really isn't so much about what you do, but how you do it.