The First Day as a Second Grader’s Mom

Yesterday was my first day as a second grader’s mom. I had many feelings, but the strongest was watching my little girl grow up, layering her multiple identities as multicultural, multilingual, and gifted.

She’s taller now, loves cats, devours books, and dreams big. Recently, she told me she wants to be both a mom and a space scientist who studies how life could reproduce in space. Then she added, with striking practicality: “Actually, those two goals might conflict. If I have kids, I might not want to leave them to go to space.”

That honesty made me smile.

What surprised me even more was her dad’s response. I asked him, “If she really had the chance to join a space mission, doing research she loves, but not knowing if she could return, what would you say?” Without hesitation, my husband, a scientist himself, said, “No.” Too dangerous. He couldn’t bear it.

The truth is, I couldn’t either. Yet if the opportunity were real, I think I’d encourage her to try. Parenting constantly reveals these blind spots, moments where love and fear collide.

But for now, she’s only eight. Our new school year reminders are simple: she doesn’t need to be the smartest, the best, or the hardest-working. Reasonably hard-working is enough.

What matters more is her ability to regulate emotions. In today’s world of endless information and noise, learning to stay steady and balanced may be the skill that serves her best.