lewelma Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Well, it is almost upon us. DS has been working working working on getting his skills up. For those of you who have not followed this long hard slog, here is the thread where he faced horrible twists and turns on his journey http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/587865-the-long-hard-slog-to-the-top-he-made-the-team/ Although he tells me he is ok without earning any medal, I'm also seeing worry that he thinks he may not worthy of the team. So much pressure. So much enthusiasm. It is so hard but also the making of him. We have turned in the passport, the media consent, and the registration forms. Now it is time to fund raise the money. More sighs. Apparently, the NZ government will pay 75% and the other 25% is our responsibility. So $2000. For anyone who has ever fund-raised, you know how time consuming this is. I'm trying to walk the fine line between teaching him responsibility and recognizing that he is already working very hard. In the end, dh and I have decided to pay $1000 out of pocket, and help ds to fund-raise the rest. Kind of a compromise. I think I have finally convinced him to go 'busking' with his brother at lunch on a few occasions. Musical kids can earn about $50-75 per hour. DS is ok with this but only if younger brother goes with him, as he feels he is too old for the 'cute factor'. Younger ds is very excited about it, because he *loves* attention. :001_smile: We have also helped ds make a givealitte page which we have posted on our local homeschool page (here it is if you wan't to sponsor him: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/keiran-to-imo But please ignore if you are sick of these requests!) So now, I'm down to contacting places like Rotary. I have to say that all this effort is kind of a pain in the a**, but I do think it is teaching ds the value of money. He already knows the value of work, but money is always off the radar for him. I will have to say that the Team Coordinator is awesome. He was on the team 5 years ago, spent the intervening time doing his BS at Harvard, and is now doing his PhD in Auckland. He is putting out the weekly assignments and grading them also. He will go to Hong Kong with the team. I think it is so cool that he is interested in training up the younger generation. His comments on ds's work seem to be very useful and encouraging. Overall, the past 6 weeks have been good, if busy; and I expect more of the same for the next 6 weeks. And just because this is the accelerated board and you guys are so kind to let me brag, ds just finished War and Peace. :hurray: Took him 12 weeks. :huh: .....And just to make ds very real, just as I wrote that last sentence, he dumped his blue cheese on my carpet in *my* bedroom!!!! :eek: :cursing: Ruth in NZ 36 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epi Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Tell him to relax and enjoy the experience. Treat it as a warm up for 2017. One year can bring a lot of improvement. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Donated a little (under DD's organization name, My Little Python). Let me know if it doesn't go through-we've had trouble with an AUS based crowdfunding site being rejected by our credit card company. He's going to have an awesome experience! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilaclady Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Congratulations again. Tell him to enjoy and have fun. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MASHomeschooler Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 What a great experience for him. Congratulations and good luck! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 So excited for him! Sent him something small, hope it helps. And hugs, proud mama! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted May 21, 2016 Author Share Posted May 21, 2016 Thanks for all the well wishes, guys. :001_wub: You are really the only ones except the grandparents who know the whole story. As you know, parents of accelerated kids aren't really allowed to say much as it comes across as bragging, so now at the end when I tell someone of ds's accomplishment, they don't actually know about all the twists and turns of the path to get there. So it is like 'amazing!' or 'wow!' not 'I know how hard this has been and how hard you have worked, you deserve it.' As for the donations, they came through without trouble. DS loved reading the little notes this morning. :001_wub: The givealittle process has been so affirming. This is definitely a sporty country, so athletic accomplishments are valued way more than academic ones. Recognition is not why he does math, of course, but it still feels good. DS has been asked to write up his story for the correspondence school magazine with distribution of 16,000. Makes me a bit nervous but we decided to go for it. Navigating these emotional waters has always been the hardest part of the journey. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visitor Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 So happy for you and your family . Good luck in China ! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Congratulations! and hugs! and good luck! and I hope the blue cheese smell is gone! made a little donation .... I'm so glad he's going this year. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 oh yay, a contribution is on the way from us too... he goes with ALL our good thoughts! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoes+Ships+SealingWax Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Congratulations!! We are in Hong Kong - let me know if there's anything I can do locally to help 😊 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.