When I Grow Up

If you would have asked me in middle school what I wanted to be when I grew up I would have told you a Marine Biologist.  That worked out great until I realized I really didn't like biology and that a janitor at Sea World has a Master's Degree.  So, in high school I decided I wanted to be an Electrical Engineer.  I thought it would make my Dad proud since he had been an Electrical Contractor all his life.  That worked out great until I realized it was really, really hard.  Too bad I was already in the third year of college when I figured this out.  So, what am I now?  I know at this point you have to be thinking author, brain surgeon, rocket scientist, or something along those lines.  Nope, I work in retail.  Alas my life long dream has come true.  What I have always dreamed of being is now reality and what a dream it was. 

The next question is how did I get here.  It's simple.  I was a sophomore/junior in college when I met my wife.  I had been in college almost six years and still had not even became close to graduating.  It didn't help that I had participated in the Co-op program for two of those years.  The work really made me feel I had made the right choice.  Unfortunately the classes didn't agree.  So, here I was struggling part time in school and working part time when I met my significant other.  By then I knew I was just spinning my wheels going to class and wasting my Mom's money to boot.  Shortly after we began dating, she became pregnant.  It wasn't a hard choice to make, deciding to quit school and begin trying to advance in my current occupation.  It made it even easier when she lost her job.  The opportunity was there, I just had to take it.  I did, and here I am nine years later, an assistant store manager for a major retailer. I wouldn't change it for the world.

So, now I am a father of three, soon to be four.  I have a good life.  Rich beyond my wildest dreams, although we struggle week to week to pay our bills, put food on the table, and take care of our kids.  My wife is a SAHM.  Seriously, who can afford child care for two?  She does a great job raising our girls day in and day out and I work 50+ hours a week.  I love my life.  Is it sad though that I want more for my children?  I want them to be whatever they want to be.  I want them to be successful beyond their wildest dreams. What does that really mean though?  I think I am successful, just not what I thought I would be.  How do we help our children become what they want to be, or what they are really meant to be?

When I grow up, I want to be a great Dad.  Really, that's what I want.  I really don't care about my profession.  Rarely is a coworker going to remember me as a great leader or manager.  My kids will always remember what kind of Dad I was though. That makes me want to be a great one.  I remember my Dad was a great man.  I just hope when my kids are in their thirties they can think about me that way too.  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Shirt and Shoes Required

So, we came home from our road trip to the In-Law's this weekend for Punky Doodles birthday.  It was a typical road trip, full of the kids fighting, Daddy sleeping, and Mommy driving.  Along the way, Mommy had to use the restroom.  This should sound familiar to all you DADDS out there.  News Flash: A Pregnant Woman Needs to Use the Restroom!  As we pull into the front row parking space, Random Girl rouses to and reads  the first sign on the glass at the gas station,  "No Loitering."  After a brief explanation, she reads the next one, "Shirt and Shoes Required.  What does that mean Mommy?"  After, again, another brief explanation, Random Girl responds with "What about pants?"  The hysterics begin.

This brings me to my point, my daughter is six years old, seven in February.  I know I am like every parent out there and thinks that their child is a genius, but all signs point to yes.  During her parent teacher conference last month, the teacher told my wife that she was well above the learning level of the class, she has already passed the final test of the year with flying colors, and is the only one in the class reading at a fourth grade reading level.  She's a genius right? 

Well, never the less, our elementary school here is sub-par to say the least and we don't know what to do.  My sister has suggested that we look into a charter school, but I can't find a whole lot of information on  the two we have locally.  All I want is the best for my children and she is not being challenged where she is now.  Any suggestions on what we should do?  Any experiences I can learn from?  What other options are there out there besides your traditional private and public schools?