And even better is that the Deputy Headboy is his best buddy and partner in crime. The pair of them will be a force to be reckoned with. We are very proud.
But are we more proud of him now than we were before he had this badge pinned onto his blazer? Absolutely not.
This boy has worked hard consistently. He has shown leadership skills and managed responsibility well since he was very little. It's what he's good at and so we have encouraged him to be all he was made to be.
But there are some words of warning too.
Our job is not only to encourage him in his strengths, but also to warn him of the dangers. Power brings responsibility. It can be used to bring great joy but also to cause enormous damage. As parents, we need to steer him and teach him to be the best he can be, but to continue in humility and looking to serve others before himself. This new role will be full of opportunities for him to learn these important lessons and this, more than anything else, is why I am excited he has been chosen. A year-long learning curve for my boy.
We also need to remember that within a family, each person has their own strengths. As the first child, Toby is not setting any standard for which the others must aim. He is being himself. The others will not have any expectation from us to follow in his footsteps, but simply to be all they were made to be too. Everyone is brilliant at something. Our job as parents is to find that 'something' in each of our children and draw it out of them so they can excel and grow. And whilst we have one very strong leader who is gifted academically, we also have a boy who is fearless, brimming with compassion and ready to fight the injustices of the world. The little one is more persistent than a dripping tap, curious about the world around him and full of fun. Each one is beautifully individual. Each one walks a different path. Each one requires a different hand on the shoulder.
So, Headboy or not, our parenting privilege of shaping and guiding continues. What an honour.
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