Cutting the Umbilical Cord

[DeltAlum]

I hated being one of the youngest in my classes all the way K-16.

[Munchkin03]

What's the hurry? I'm sure people told my parents that I was "ready" for kindergarten at 4 1/2, but they knew I'd still be ready at 5. They declined an offer to allow me to jump forward a year because they didn't want me to get ahead of myself. Plus, they were aware that every year counts when you're that little as far as personal development and social skills go.

As much flack as I get now from clients who had no idea that I'd be "so young," I don't want to imagine what it would be like if I was a year or two younger.

In some areas, the opposite situation is occuring--some parents want their children to be in the top reading group, and to be better athletes than their classmates, so they're holding them back a year and enrolling them in enrichment classes or sports camps to achieve that goal.

[SWTXBelle]

My eldest daughter was reading at 3 (taught herself, really) and at 5 was reading at a 1st grade level. Her birthday is Dec. 9. When I talked to the headmaster at the private school she was to attend, he asked if I wanted her to go to college at 17. Good point, I thought. She might be ready then, she might not. So I didn't enroll her at 4.
She went to a wonderful pre-school, read tons of books, and went to kindergarten months shy of 6. She did great - and all things considered, I'm glad I didn't "push". I think you need to ask yourself what is going to benefit your child on all fronts - not just scholastic.
As an aside, she has been home schooled since 6th grade, and her ACT score is in the top 5%. She is actually a very mature young lady - more than ready for college (though I'm not, necessarily!) and I think the extra year out of the system benefited her. That said, it's a call for a parent to make with input from the school, I think.

[christiangirl]

Hmmm....I'm one of those who swing back and forth. I spent my entire childhood clinging to my mother for dear life and she tried to make me as independent as possible. Now, she, and everyone else, are telling me that I'm too young to really be independent and that I have my whole life to learn how to support myself. I'd rather work and support myself, but my parents won't hear of it (and, to be honest, I enjoy living comfortably). So, I have a job and can provide for my own personal expenses, food and whatnot, but that's really it. My mom invited herself to come with me when I move to my new apartment by my grad school next week (a cross-country move). This is my first apartment without roommates, so she wants to help me move in and I don't mind. It's like a mother-daughter thing, decorating my first place by myself. But I'm driving her to the airport before I go to orientation--I'M NOT TAKING MY MOMMY TO GRADUATE SCHOOL. NO.

After this program is over, I plan to be financially independent of my parents. I think it really depresses them to hear me say "I don't need your help" and that's partially way I'm not more insistent about it (the other part is I like having minimal resposibility because I know, once it's gone, it's gone). But I don't want to be one of those spoiled little girls who wake up one day, 28 and married, and her parents are still paying her part of the rent.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

I hated being one of the youngest in my classes all the way K-16.

Ditto.

(August 31 birthday here with a September 1 cutoff!)