Helping Your Child ThriveSample

HELP KIDS FOLLOW THEIR GIFTS

Many parents dread the new school year because it means another season of squabbling with their kids about grades. But, mom and dad, remember this: While a strong report card has its place, it doesn’t always reveal where your child’s greatest abilities lie. Just ask Alan Menken.

If you were Alan’s parents, you probably would have been disappointed – and maybe a little surprised – at his grades. After all, five people in Alan’s immediate family were dentists. Everyone, including Alan himself, naturally thought he would follow suit. The only hitch was that Alan had never done all that well in school. In fact, judging by his grades, you might have assumed Alan wouldn’t be successful in anything.

But report cards don’t measure everything about a person. You see, Alan was able to turn his passion for music into a career. And though you may not have heard of Alan Menken, you’re probably familiar with his work. He’s written musical scores for some of Disney’s most popular modern animated films. Oh, and about those report cards that indicated he might not be successful… So far, Alan has won eight Academy Awards for his work. That’s the third most in the history of the award!

I’m not suggesting grades don’t matter. But I do want to remind parents that the marks on that report card don’t tell the whole story. Sometimes you have to look beneath the surface to really see what your child is made of and the gifts God has given them.