Choices.

So we (we as in my hubby and in-laws) just got back from the most amazing dinner at Cafe Dario. Go there if you ever get the chance to, it was probably the one of the best restaurant experiences that I've ever had. The food, service and atmosphere was amazing. It was a fixed price menu ($35 per person) and you get your choice of appetizer and entree. It also comes with soup, salad AND dessert! Amazing.... But with the fixed price menu: having specific choices, it got me thinking of the choices this kid will have later in life.

Will he/she have the same opportunities we all had?
Will he/she have the chance to play an instrument in school or will that be another program cut?
Will he/she learn cursive writing as well as typing?
Will he/she be able to take an art class as a part of his/her curriculum or will the arts be passe by then?
Will  he/she have sports teams or will the technological advances of their cell phone be their sense of belonging?
Will he/she know how to play out side and not just on a computer?

...just some of the things I worry about. It seems a bit ridiculous but alot of those things made me who I am today.
I remember playing the recorder and xylophone in elementary ( I was horrible, sorry mom and dad) but it gave me confidence to try new things.
I learned how to use cursive writing instead of just printing , and I was good at it! I loved making my writing look SOOOO fancy :)
Art class was one of the classes I looked forward to every week. I was by far not the best artist in the group but I still loved it. It gave me creative release. It was something other than numbers and science.
Believe it or not, I played a lot of sports. It gave me confidence, sportsmanship and a competitive spirit. I knew I didn't have to win every game, be a starter or captain but, sometimes it was just good enough to be a part of something. All I see now is kids with blackberries and IPhones, texting each other. Hell, I was 23 when I got my first cell phone! Maybe I come from the old school of thought where you can't have something like that until you can pay for it on your own.
One of the saddest stories I've heard recently was that some kids don't know how to play outside. I mean, what?!?! I was in shock, when I was a kid that's all I ever wanted to do. Go ride my bike, play in the sprinkler, race up and down the street with my friends. Most kids now are holed up inside with a video game in front of them and I find that sad. I loved nature walks and staring at clouds.

I know alot of it what our kid becomes will come from us and what we teach it. I know we will have the immense support of family and friends. We do have  ALOT of good people that surround us daily.  I just I hope I make the right choices for this kid myself.