Lessons from School: What Sticks and What Doesn’t When It Comes to Parenting

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“Did I really need that degree?” It’s a question I’ve tossed around, just like many others. I earned a degree in graphic design and web development, spent six years in the field, and then two more years balancing work with the chaos of my first child. But when it comes to daily parenting, my degree isn’t exactly a goldmine. Sure, I can whip up a photo book or a birth announcement, but my kids don’t exactly require a brand identity or animated ads. They just need a drink, a snack, and a staggering number of adhesive bandages for their “pretend” injuries.

Now, let’s talk about the high school classes I once grumbled about while sitting in a classroom. Fast forward two decades and three kids later, and guess what? Some of those lessons turned out to be surprisingly handy.

Classes That Actually Help with Parenting:

1. Basic Math: You’ll need it for budgeting. Even if you’re like me and count on your fingers, it gets the job done. I can mentally tally how much I can spend on groceries while my kids demand bizarre dinner options like peanut butter and ketchup.
2. Chemistry: Who knew that knowing the right vinegar-to-baking-soda ratio would save my mattress from the aftermath of bedtime accidents? Forget about Bunsen burners; I’ve got cleaning skills instead.
3. English: This is essential for reading bedtime stories and helping my kids with phonics, spelling, and writing. Without it, storytime would be a total flop!
4. Cooking: I might not be a master chef (ask me about my egg-flipping skills), but I can generally prevent us from eating charred offerings. Thank you, Foods class, for keeping my family alive.
5. Fine Art: Teaching my kids to draw is one of the joys of parenting. Every masterpiece starts with simple shapes and colors, and it’s about expression and creativity.
6. P.E.: Forget your high school gym class; you’ll get more exercise in the first five years of parenting than you did during all of high school. Who knew toddlers could turn you into an Olympic sprinter?
7. Nutrition: Although I don’t always follow my own advice, I make sure my kids get their daily servings of fruits and veggies. Thanks to my nutrition class, I know to put actual carrots on their plates instead of candy corn.
8. Speech and Debate: If you’ve tried negotiating with a toddler over something like wearing pants, you know this is a skill worth having.
9. Typing: It’s my lifeline to the outside world. Whether typing out blog posts or firing off texts, this is how I communicate now—thumbs up!
10. Physics: Understanding motion helps me predict how far a kid will skid after tripping over their toy truck. Trust me, I’ve become quite the expert at stopping falls in their tracks.

Classes That Didn’t Quite Make the Cut:

1. Physics: A toddler in motion? Yeah, good luck getting them to stay still.
2. Algebra: I’ve never needed to figure out how many slices of bread I can buy with soup. The only equations I solve involve who launched watermelon chunks across the living room.
3. Mythology: As fascinating as it was, I haven’t met a Medusa lately, so it’s not exactly relevant.
4. Child Development: My high school class didn’t prepare me for real-life parenting challenges, like the art of rotating a baby for hat fitting.
5. Sewing: If only I had paid attention. Now, everything goes to my mother-in-law for repair.
6. Geography: The only navigation I do is pointing the way to Grandma’s house. Without the mountains, I’d be lost.
7. Astronomy: When a toddler asks about the stars, it usually leads to a request for candy instead.
8. Geometry: Finding the area of a triangle? That’s a skill we haven’t needed since the last time we saw a triangle.
9. Spanish: I look Hispanic, but thanks to my lack of attention in class, I can’t speak a word of it.

So, the next time someone questions your education or you find yourself wondering about the value of your degree, remember all the lessons you’ve gathered from first grade to graduation. We all have skills to share with our kids, even if cooking an egg over easy remains an elusive goal.

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Summary

In the end, many lessons from school apply to parenting, while others seem to fall flat. Basic skills like math, English, and even physical education can be surprisingly useful when raising kids. Conversely, some subjects, such as physics and algebra, may not translate into the parenting realm. Regardless, every experience contributes to the journey of raising children.