My ex step-son was attacked by gang members in high school in LA and was diagnosed with mild brain damage. All of the doctors said he could lead a normal life but never have the ability to at excel at much.
I turned him on to computers and had him work with a number of specialists and though he got a late start, he applied to the Naval Academy and was accepted. We worked harder than any of the younger plebes in his class and finished at the top of his class. Was accepted in to the flight program and is currently on the fast track to be an officer. His commanding officer said he is the most naturally born pilot he has ever seen.
My old girl friend in high school called me one day about 13 years ago and told me her son was given a choice in court to either enlist or go to jail. His father was a career criminal. He and I talked and he enlisted into the Navy. I directed him to take as many classes and get as much education as he possibly could. I told him to only take take classes that interested him and never give up. He became a sponge. He served in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. He is now on special duty in Florida and was asked recently to join the Secret Service. Everyone wrote him off as incorrigible except his mother and I. He calls me Pops and tells me I saved his life. All I did was care. That is all most kids want is just to have someone show them that someone cares what they want.
I have two daughters and the support I gave them never faltered. We have the responsibility to see that our children have the best shot at succeeding at whatever THEY choose to apply themselves toward. In my home, failure is not an option. If they would have chosen to be garbage workers, what mattered was they applied themselves, tried and were the best based on their abilities. I supported them, whole heartedly in their choices and that is what is truly important. One works for the government as a private contractor and the other is an internet marketing developer.
IMHO - Part of the problem today is that most parents push the responsibility of education and support on to the educational system instead of taking on the responsibility themselves. It is a partnership and just like any good partnership if one partner doesn't do their job the whole process falls apart.
I turned him on to computers and had him work with a number of specialists and though he got a late start, he applied to the Naval Academy and was accepted. We worked harder than any of the younger plebes in his class and finished at the top of his class. Was accepted in to the flight program and is currently on the fast track to be an officer. His commanding officer said he is the most naturally born pilot he has ever seen.
My old girl friend in high school called me one day about 13 years ago and told me her son was given a choice in court to either enlist or go to jail. His father was a career criminal. He and I talked and he enlisted into the Navy. I directed him to take as many classes and get as much education as he possibly could. I told him to only take take classes that interested him and never give up. He became a sponge. He served in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. He is now on special duty in Florida and was asked recently to join the Secret Service. Everyone wrote him off as incorrigible except his mother and I. He calls me Pops and tells me I saved his life. All I did was care. That is all most kids want is just to have someone show them that someone cares what they want.
I have two daughters and the support I gave them never faltered. We have the responsibility to see that our children have the best shot at succeeding at whatever THEY choose to apply themselves toward. In my home, failure is not an option. If they would have chosen to be garbage workers, what mattered was they applied themselves, tried and were the best based on their abilities. I supported them, whole heartedly in their choices and that is what is truly important. One works for the government as a private contractor and the other is an internet marketing developer.
IMHO - Part of the problem today is that most parents push the responsibility of education and support on to the educational system instead of taking on the responsibility themselves. It is a partnership and just like any good partnership if one partner doesn't do their job the whole process falls apart.