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Letters To My Son: On the 1st Day of 10th Grade

Dear Pookah,

Today is your first day of the 10th grade.

And once again, you are going on a new adventure.

You told me the other day that you think you have problems with commitment. Because you don’t think you can stick to things: ie football and a few other hobbies that you decided you didn’t like.

I don’t see this stage of you “changing your mind” as a lack of commitment. Rather, I want you to think of it these next few years as exploring your options. Because what I love about you is that once you decide you don’t like something, you don’t linger. You don’t keep going. You have the courage to say: this is not for me.

I love how when you DO set goal, you are all in. Like applying for and getting in to this new school despite my reservations and fears.

I won’t lie and say I’m not worried for you on this new school year. It’s going to be a big change. A big change socially AND academically. And that you will be working against a few prejudices.

But I want to tell you like I do every morning on the way to school:

You can do anything that you put your mind to.

You have your whole life ahead of you to figure out what makes you commit.

You are smart.

You are kind

You are amazing.

And I love you.

Have a great year.

Love,

Mom