While scrolling through the Facebook newsfeed tonight, I came upon a photo a friend posted of his wife, who is very pregnant, and their dog, out in a beautiful field, sun shining, flowers in bloom.
Over the course of years I've known him, we've had a number of conversations about parenthood. The usual impetus is me mentioning how old each of my boys are. When he met them, Frank was seven, and Beck was two. My advice to him each time the subject came up was to pay attention, because they grow up so quickly.
Recently I asked his advice about the best path for Frank to take in his approach to college. The main thing he said was Frank should take the path of passion. Do what he's interested in, excited about, passionate about.
Frank has had music in his life all his life. This friend is someone who influenced Frank, without him really knowing it. Sitting in our living room, both times he came and played house concerts for us, Frank listened. He listened to the same music we were listening to, and talking about; he listened as our friend talked about his own path, how his own parents influenced him.
Today Frank enrolled in his first class at Berklee School of Music. It's an online music production class in which he'll learn the basics of software he'll need this summer at the Berklee music technology workshop he's attending, and at NYU's summer music production program, if he gets in.
I looked at my friend's photo on Facebook, and thought back on those days and weeks before Frank was born. Parenthood. What would it be like? How would we feel? What would our hopes and dreams be for this little boy who was about to become such an important, integral, essential part of our lives?
Health. Happiness. Passion. Enthusiasm. Excitement. Opportunity. Part of opportunity is exposing him to people who will make a difference in his life. Teachers, but not just those he learns from in an academic setting, but those who teach without even realizing they are. Those teachers are often the ones who make the biggest difference in the lives of our children. Those are the teachers we are thankful for each and every day.
And there is the last bit of advice I'll give to my friend. Pay attention . . . not just to them, but to the people who influence them. Be grateful, and say thank you, for you never know which of these will play a role so important that it affects the rest of your child's life.
Thank you, my friend. Get ready for the magic . . . there's truly nothing like it.
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