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Homeschooled Child Prodigy Grows Up

Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay – Robert Frost

The journey has ended. My son has finished his K-12 homeschool education, graduated with honors a semester early, and is now embarking on the next phase of his life.  He has grown up.  But what is he going to be?

Not everyone knows what they want to be. Though some have shown extraordinary talents early on. For example:

Blaise Pascall wrote a treatise at 9….Christopher Paolini wrote his first novel at age 15….Jackie Cooper was nominated for an oscar at age 9…Picasso painted Picador at age 8…Mozart was playing beautiful music by age 5.

My son too, showed talents early on.

  • Age 1: Tore off the wallpaper in his room. We thought Interior designer?
  • Age 2:  Ate rocks. Could he be a Geologist?
  • Age 3: Invented a cheerio baking soda pound cake. Maybe a world class Chef?
  • Age 6: Brisk lemonade and candy stand sales. Entrepreneur?
  • Age 8: Guitarist? 
  • Age 9: Self-published his book “When We Were Shrunk”. Could he be a novelist?
  • Age 10:  Started movie making. Would he be the next Steven Spielberg?
 He taught a course on film-making at age 14, started his own lawn mowing business at 15, and became a paid tutor at age 16.  At age 17 he developed, beta-tested, and published his own video game.
 Perhaps because he had so many interests, and showed promise in countless areas, he’s not sure which way to go.
I tell him it’s ok.  It doesn’t matter, because he has proven he can be anything he wants.
What does matter is that he never loses his passion.
That he feeds his desire to learn, to do, to teach.
It’s hard to see my baby boy grown to a man.
I feel the tears welling and my heart is heavy.
God, I can’t believe it’s really over.
I loved it all. I look back over the last 13 years and I am so glad we chose to homeschool.
I think if you met my son, you would agree, he’s a fine young man and he’s had a wonderful education.
His homeschool journey has come to a close and it’s his time to step out into the world.
Director, chef, engineer, physicist, CEO, writer, husband, father.
He may choose one, he may choose them all.
Whatever he chooses, I have no doubt –  he’s going to be great.

By Kathy

I am a Nurse Practitioner from Rochester, NY presently working in both the inpatient and outpatient hospital psychiatric settings.

6 replies on “Homeschooled Child Prodigy Grows Up”

Beth, words cannot express how proud we are of Garrison. Best years of my life raising that boy! Thank you for your words of encouragement to me and my fellow homeschoolers. Now the exciting part: sit back and watch that young man put his mark on the world…

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Thank you Barbara for your kind words, and for your contribution to his education: Life Prep for Homeschooled Teenagers was a great resource and he read quite a few of your recommended titles. Takes a village!

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Thank you Susan. We are looking forward to the big finale in June at our state convention when the “official” graduation ceremony takes place. I fear I will need to be escorted out due to my uncontrollable sobbing! I hope I can hold it together 🙂

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