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Raisin in the sun

An old play about racial segregation was titled thusly.  But mine are merely soporific thoughts on what we are all raising, in whatever climate exists around us.

In my case we (with the better than better half) are raising a child.  A daughter.  Of whom we are proud.  Actually I sometimes have a sneaking suspicion that she is raising herself just fine and we are merely witness to this phenomenon.  We are merely providing some nourishment.  She has a good head on her shoulders that one.  That this raising is largely done under an azure California sky is fortunate.  Apart from some allergy attacks that is.  Cannot have it all.

So back to the subject of raising.  Much attention in national media these days is on concepts like Tiger Mom and scholastic acheivements and state of our schools and on and on.  While providing children with modern day tools and skills (languages including SQL; stamina from swimming; music appreciation from variety of string or wind instruments, latest in gadgetry that our own backyard produces every week it seems) parents can lose their sense for what or how much is enough.

Honestly to grow up and be a confident, compassionate human who can define success for herself she is going to have to do a lot more in the networking department.  That raising is something we are actually not equipped to provide.  It is an attribute used since the beginning of time that she will need to cultivate.  We can provide pointers but then she has to take the reins and run that chariot all by herself.

I for one try to avoid other humans for a variety of weird reasons.  But as she starts her journey to discover the grown ups world she will have to breach through the throngs and identify opportunities, to connect, to learn and to make her mark.

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