Driving past a grammar school today I noted the marquee out front said “3/22 Report Cards” and I remembered getting report cards and progress reports in school; for myself and then for my children. In fact, I recently discovered I had old report cards for my kids (and a few for my husband, as well). I think I must have burned my own, since none were in the box I was sorting. I sent them to the kids for Christmas, but I suspect they may not have shared them with their own children, as many of them were not stellar and reflected the same criticisms they have about the grandkids.
It might not be a bad thing if we were to continue getting quarterly report cards during the entirety of our lives. Ideally, they would come from God, or someone in a position to know what is really going on, and they would NOT come from our spouses, parents, or children.
I gave some thought to who might be able to update our successes and failures and realized that it is something we could only do for ourselves. It would require a fair amount of honesty but would not need to be signed by anyone else.
I may even implement a procedure for “grading” myself on a quarterly basis in the areas that have importance in my life. In grammar school it may have been reading, writing, and arithmetic but I suspect at this age it would more likely be areas like flexibility (both physical and emotional), spending, focus, and self-care (flossing, vitamins, etc.).
Many of the areas that “needed work” when I was a child are probably still an issue; talks too much, distracts other children, not living up to her potential (I didn’t know what that meant then, and I still don’t know what it means).
I suspect my current progress report, as complete by me, would look something like this:
Subject Grade Comments
Finance A B C D F Buys too much stuff
Never saves anything
Relationships A B C D F Cares too much what others think “people pleaser”
Finds it difficult to say “No”
Housework A B C D F Easily distracted
Not living up to potential
Volunteerism A B C D F Overextends self
Loses interest easily
Exercise and Fitness A B C D F Leaves much to be desired
Wine Consumption A B C D F Very talented in this area
Downsizing A B C D F Seems to be “unclear on the concept.” Appears to be upsizing
Spirituality A B C D F Somewhere between Buddhist and Agnostic – Low tolerance for hypocrites
Mortality Acceptance A B C D F High marks on theory, low marks on practical application
Needs Work:
Stop buying stuff you don’t need, make some money on the side (e-Bay, etc.). Finish and sell that damn book!
Spend less time worrying about what other people think, say “no” when you really don’t want to do something.
Either do more housework or admit you really don’t care and spend your time doing things you do care about.
Limit volunteering to things you really care about and let someone else care about the other stuff
Move more, eat less, and floss every day. Take those vitamins.
Watch the wine.
Start sorting through and getting rid of stuff so your children don’t have to do it when you are gone.
Decide what it is you believe or admit it doesn’t matter what you “believe” it only matters what is.
Come to that place where you realize that whatever is next is whatever it is and stop worrying about it.
Okay, if you were giving yourself progress reports, what would be your “subject” areas, your grades, and your comments? I’d be interested to know?
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