How to Raise a Valedictorian
Study together.
She, homework.
You, Woolf.
Release her from school for
antiwar protests and call it
civics lessons
Ban video games
Tell her God gave her beautiful,
but smart takes work
Love unconditionally
© Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Trifecta’s Weekend Challenge was 33 words of advice. This worked for my daughter Riley, who is currently a top student at Laguna Beach Institute of Art and Design. Did I mention she doodled in the margins of her homework? That she came out to the entire student body’s parents during her speech? (She was already out, “gender queer,” to all her friends, and didn’t lose one of them.) Can you tell you much Lex and I love this young woman?
The picture was taken by Lex as we were being goofy after the ceremony. Silver becomes her, but her heart? Pure gold. Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
AR Neal
Lovely photo and great entry 🙂
Draug419
It’s clear you and your daughter have a special bond. And while I may not agree with the video game part (proud, honor student gamer here) I definitely agree your parenting plan worked like a charm (:
Sharp Little Pencil
Jury’s out on the video games, agreed, on a lot of fronts. But Riley also had a tendency to stay with one task for hours, and she would never have stopped playing! (Turns out she has Asperger’s, like Gretchen)
jannatwrites
Looks like it worked for you! We don’t have a gaming system, but my sons did save up for iPods…when school work, reading, and chores are done, they play…when their work doesn’t get done, they pay.
ramblingsfromamum
Yay for Riley, her mum, her mums unconditional and supportive love and her post.
Here is mine http://ramblingsfromamum.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/my-words-shall-never-run-dry/
Thank you
Polly Robinson
Reads like a recipe ~ I love it 🙂
Lance
What two lovely ladies.
My Taylor aka Tay is finishing her junior year of high sschool. She’s in the top 25 ofa class of about 400 with a 3.8 GPA (yes I’m an obnoxious bragging dumb dad). Her guidance counselor recently told us she can go to any school in our state (Georgia) and many other ones outside of it. We talk/study.help and encourage her every day whether she likes it or not. I tell her she’s beautiful and brilliant at least 10 times a day.
looks like we have incredible girls, Amy. This is why we’re friends.
Sabio Lantz
Cute! Can’t see the “smart” in the photo, however. Just see “wonderfully insane” — something unconditional love certainly nourishes! Well done, Mom.
Damn thing about numbers, not everyone can be up near the top.
Like you, I try to give enough love for my daughter to know that she doesn’t ever have to be at the top of anything.
Mary
It is wonderful to read this poem of such obvious love and appreciation of your daughter, Amy. I love the pic!
vivinfrance
Excellent advice. This one should win! With Napo and visitors, I haven’t done Trifecta this week.
lmkazmierczak
Congrats to you and your daughter♫♪
on thehomefrontandbeyond
congraths — love your poem and the outcome
ann bennett
I know you are proud. What an accomplishment for your daughter and you. I agree about the video games. I had a student that had chronic fatigue. He played video games a lot. I always felt if they banned those games, they might cure his fatigue.
Suzanne
Love, love, love this! Awesome words of advice, awesome approach to parenting. And congratulations to both of you — what a great picture!
deanabo
I can feel your love and pride through your words!
mindlovemisery
This is so inspirational and beautiful =)
Nenna
Very sage advice. And it obviously worked well–you’ve got an incredible daughter there!
Marie
“Release her from school for
antiwar protests and call it
civics lessons”
Awesome parenting advice there! Kudos to you for doing it…
kymminbarcelona
Excellent advice, Amy, especially that last bit! [And much congratulations to Riley!]
Roger Green
Hey, that is a proud mama!
Josie Two Shoes
How to be as proud a mom as you have every right to be! It looks like your daughter is turning out to be every bit the amazing woman her mother is, but defining amazing in her own way, which I know is exactly what you want for her! It is going to be fun to watch the things she does with her life. Congrats to you, Mom for a job well done, and congrats to Riley for having the courage to be who she is and to do it well!
Gina
This made me smile the whole way through! Awesome picture!
I HAVE A VOICE
congratulations !!
Cheney
Oh, I love this!
whimsygizmo
Love, LOVE, Amy. You rock. As a writer, and especially as a Mama.
Tara R.
This should be included in every parent’s manual.
unevenstevencu
need lots more valedictorians with independent minds of their own – that’s what eduction is for ain’t it??
Valerie
Amy-your daughter is pure gold! This is so inspiring! I can think of another title for your piece as well-:How to be one hell of a good mother!
Signed, another very proud mom:)
And p.s. I love the photo!
lumdog
This sounds just about perfect if you can keep it going. I enjoyed this writing too.
barbara
straight from the heart of a mom. Beautiful, Amy
brenda w
My guess is that you and your daughter rock each other’s worlds. Nicely done, Amy, both the writing and the raising.
Sara v
Pretty awesome Amy! Both you and Riley. 🙂 Congratulations–love the phrase God gave you beautiful, but smart takes work ❤
purplepeninportland
What better advice could she ask for? She is lucky to have you.