My son is too young to write. Well, he is writing the letters of the alphabet that are sometimes a little hard to figure out, but he’s not yet putting the letters together to form words and sentences. I look forward to that day.
So, while I wait for him to become the incredible author I know he’ll be, I have had the pleasure the last few years of being asked to judge the Family Alliance, “Why My Family is Special” essay contest. Every year, 4th graders from all the schools in the Lynchburg area, public and private, write a short essay about what makes their family special. I think over the years I’ve probably looked at least 400 essays, and what I’ve read has made me laugh out loud and even brought me to tears. Children have such a gift for telling it like it is.
For a lot of kids, going to amusement parks, putt-putt or the beach are the things that are special to them. For other children, it’s game or movie night at home. Still others write about their pride in seeing a sibling overcome a challenge…or come home for a visit if they live out of the area. This year I had more than 150 essays to read, and while it sounds like a lot, it’s time well spent. In fact, the hardest part isn’t sitting down and reading, it’s choosing the one that stands out the most. So many of the essays tug at your heartstrings and really make you take a look back at your own childhood.