When your children surpass you

Today my daughter was defending her thesis for a Master’s Degree.  She wrote a 76 page paper on issues of gender and acclimation to changes in culture, or something like that.  She did research on college students who were in a study abroad program and compared how the men’s and women’s attitudes and adjustments differed. 

Okay, I went on to a professional degree after college.  My husband has his BA.  We both wrote a lot of papers.  Neither of us, and probably both of us combined never wrote 76 pages.  Neither of us had to actually get up in front of a bunch of people (she invited people from many different departments and students who she studied) and explain what we researched and field questions about it.  She did a power point presentation of her research and conclusions. 

This is so impressive to me. I don’t think  I could do that, even if I had to save my children’s lives. I can’t believe that she is my daughter.  Obviously, I am proud of her.  But it goes beyond that.  She is now an adult who has surpassed both her father and I in our professional lives.  She could be my supervisor if I were to apply for a job in the office where she hopes to work.

This is amazing.  I have read the history of immigrants who have watched their children succeed in a new country.  I’ve heard of the mothers who worked cleaning toilets to put their children through medical school.  Or, imagine that your child became the president of the United States.  I know just a little bit of how they must feel (I also wonder how it feels when you see that child fail as President of the United States).  I can’t take responsibility or credit for all of her work. She did it all.  I know that she will likely do a lot more in the future.

Right now, I am trying to handle the concept that I am an underachiever in comparison.  It actually feels sort of good!

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