She's eleven years old and has been precocious for as long as I can remember.
At five, she told us, "It's time for me to start learning how to play violin."
At eight, she said, "Why can't I have my own blog?"
And now, at eleven, Claire -- our oldest of three children -- has taught us a lesson in perseverance and decision-making.
First, the background of this story.
At the beginning of 2014, Claire's grade five cohort began a program to read both fiction and non-fiction books in preparation for participation in the Red Cedar Book Awards Program. The Red Cedar Book Awards Program itself, "encourages students in Grades 4 - 7 in British Columbia to read Canadian fiction and non-fiction titles. Each year, a Red Cedar Award is presented to one fiction and one non-fiction book which receive the most votes from children in the program."
Those who want to participate in this voluntary activity must read what seems like a thousand books in order to qualify for the one-day trip to Nanaimo, British Columbia where BookFest occurs. This extravaganza -- billed as the "Vancouver Island Children's Book Festival" -- not only is a big deal for those students who qualify by reading the requisite number of books, it's a chance to meet some of the authors they actually read in person!
As an author and a lifelong proponent of reading, this was a remarkable opportunity for Claire.
Part two to the story takes us to another remarkable event on Vancouver Island, the 6th Annual Butterfly Ball. The ball is "an enchanting evening for dads and daughters in support of children and youth through Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island." What isn't there to like? A good cause, a good night, and quality time with the up and coming violinist.
Tickets for the Butterfly Ball were purchased in late 2013. Claire and I were stoked for a 'grown-up' night out.
The story takes a sharp twist because in late January the date for BookFest was announced.
May 3, 2014.
The Butterfly Ball?
Yep. May 3, 2014.
Why the issue, you ask? Shouldn't a 'ball' be happening at night, and shouldn't a 'bookfest' happen during the day?
You are correct my young mathematician, however, the school bus Claire was taking to Nanaimo for BookFest and returning to Victoria on had her pencilled in to arrive at some point around 8:30pm. Sadly, the Butterfly Ball ended roughly around 9:00pm, so therein lies the dilemma. She could not attend both events.
For several weeks, Claire laboured over the decision.
I even looked into float planes and airlines to shuttle her from Nanaimo to Victoria in time for the Butterfly Ball.
What you don't know is that some of her very close chums were also going to the Butterfly Ball. As you can imagine, there was probably some pressure in her circles to choose the Butterfly Ball, let alone thinking she might disappoint her Dad. In the end, Claire chose perseverance. She stuck with her goal of reading those books and BookFest was the ultimate reward. Her decision-making was logical. It was pretty decisive for an eleven year-old. She made her decision by weighing all the pro's and con's, but stuck to her instinct of what was going to make her feel nourished, and one might argue flourished. She did so knowing it might disappoint her chums and (potentially) her Dad -- it didn't -- but she stuck with her core beliefs.
Claire left this morning at 7:15am on the school bus to Nanaimo to enjoy BookFest. I know she's going to have an unbelievable time.
I learned a lot from you over this process Claire, and I want to thank you. You taught me that difficult decisions can be pragmatically delineated. You can reach a conclusion with humility and love. You can show compassion and unending concern while labouring over a final verdict.
I just want to say how proud I am, and how lucky we are to have you as our daughter.
And don't worry, we will definitely make it to the Butterfly Ball next year. We might even invite your younger sister. :-)
At the beginning of 2014, Claire's grade five cohort began a program to read both fiction and non-fiction books in preparation for participation in the Red Cedar Book Awards Program. The Red Cedar Book Awards Program itself, "encourages students in Grades 4 - 7 in British Columbia to read Canadian fiction and non-fiction titles. Each year, a Red Cedar Award is presented to one fiction and one non-fiction book which receive the most votes from children in the program."
Those who want to participate in this voluntary activity must read what seems like a thousand books in order to qualify for the one-day trip to Nanaimo, British Columbia where BookFest occurs. This extravaganza -- billed as the "Vancouver Island Children's Book Festival" -- not only is a big deal for those students who qualify by reading the requisite number of books, it's a chance to meet some of the authors they actually read in person!
As an author and a lifelong proponent of reading, this was a remarkable opportunity for Claire.
Part two to the story takes us to another remarkable event on Vancouver Island, the 6th Annual Butterfly Ball. The ball is "an enchanting evening for dads and daughters in support of children and youth through Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island." What isn't there to like? A good cause, a good night, and quality time with the up and coming violinist.
Tickets for the Butterfly Ball were purchased in late 2013. Claire and I were stoked for a 'grown-up' night out.
The story takes a sharp twist because in late January the date for BookFest was announced.
May 3, 2014.
The Butterfly Ball?
Yep. May 3, 2014.
Why the issue, you ask? Shouldn't a 'ball' be happening at night, and shouldn't a 'bookfest' happen during the day?
You are correct my young mathematician, however, the school bus Claire was taking to Nanaimo for BookFest and returning to Victoria on had her pencilled in to arrive at some point around 8:30pm. Sadly, the Butterfly Ball ended roughly around 9:00pm, so therein lies the dilemma. She could not attend both events.
For several weeks, Claire laboured over the decision.
I even looked into float planes and airlines to shuttle her from Nanaimo to Victoria in time for the Butterfly Ball.
- "Do I potentially disappoint Dad and not go to the gala," she must have mentally mused several hundred times.
- "Do I forgo the chance to meet with authors, and celebrate my accomplishment of reading all those books," she clearly asked herself over and over again.
- "Do I give up the chance to participate in the hottest ticket in town while giving back to a worthy cause," she might have questioned to herself.
Mom, Dad, I've worked really hard reading those books and I want to complete my goal. It's my only chance to be a part of BookFest in Grade 5. I want to meet the authors too. I don't want to disappoint you Dad, but can we go to the Butterfly Ball next year?
What you don't know is that some of her very close chums were also going to the Butterfly Ball. As you can imagine, there was probably some pressure in her circles to choose the Butterfly Ball, let alone thinking she might disappoint her Dad. In the end, Claire chose perseverance. She stuck with her goal of reading those books and BookFest was the ultimate reward. Her decision-making was logical. It was pretty decisive for an eleven year-old. She made her decision by weighing all the pro's and con's, but stuck to her instinct of what was going to make her feel nourished, and one might argue flourished. She did so knowing it might disappoint her chums and (potentially) her Dad -- it didn't -- but she stuck with her core beliefs.
Claire left this morning at 7:15am on the school bus to Nanaimo to enjoy BookFest. I know she's going to have an unbelievable time.
I learned a lot from you over this process Claire, and I want to thank you. You taught me that difficult decisions can be pragmatically delineated. You can reach a conclusion with humility and love. You can show compassion and unending concern while labouring over a final verdict.
I just want to say how proud I am, and how lucky we are to have you as our daughter.
And don't worry, we will definitely make it to the Butterfly Ball next year. We might even invite your younger sister. :-)
