Stephen and Courtney

Stephen and Courtney

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Growth Chart

My twins were born tiny.  I made feeding them my job.  Charis was difficult to feed and we worked for every ounce that she put on.  At one point she quit taking liquids and I went to every doctor I could think of.  They all agreed that she was healthy.  The pediatrician described her at birth as "tiny but mighty" and declared her healthy at every well check.  I still obsessed over feeding her and spent the evenings coming up with new food ideas and the days frustrated that she still wasn't eating much at all.  I would feel at peace for a few days and then hear from another mom what their child eats or weighs.  Then I would feel scared again. She was never on a growth chart.

One day my wonderful pediatrician did something that changed my perspective completely.  I was once again asking if she was okay and if it is a problem that she is so small.  The doctor looked at me and said "Look, she has never been on my growth charts.  She is little.  However, she has her own growth chart".  She turned her laptop around and showed me from the day Charis was born until that day the growth that she had accomplished.  It didn't look like the other 99.9 of babies.  The line was not as steep as others but, it was her growth and it was okay.

It is like that in education, as well.  Each child develops and grows at a different rate.  That is not only okay, it can be celebrated.  We can celebrate the growth in each child.  It will not look the same and that is not failure.  As moms we can be scared when we see a "grade" or compare work to another child in their class.  Just remember... your child has their own growth chart.

Some children may be different than Charis and be off the charts.  In educational terms these children may already know much of what I had planned to teach them that year.  That is okay, too.  I can still reach them where they are and and go further.  I can also teach them how to be a good friend, how to try new things and be willing to struggle, who Jesus is and how much He loves them, and that learning is fun.

As a mom and teacher I look forward to seeing the growth in each child.  When we focus on their own growth chart we can see and celebrate the person that God created them to be.