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Old dogs...new tricks

I never cease to be amazed at how easily my children assimilate to new environments, new technology and situations.

For instance, my daughter recently moved out to live on campus...she is a college student living the full college experience...game days, sororities and dorms.

She had already made dozens of friends from her same graduation year from all over the world - yes i said "world" before she stepped foot for the first time onto campus.

Through the beauty of social networking via Facebook she was able to develop new relationships with other incoming freshmen to her chosen university. She became acquainted with her assigned roommate this way. By move in day she already knew who she had classes with and which professors were best for which classes simply by talking to upper classmen she met via Facebook.

By doing this, she felt less isolated in moving from the comfort of her friends she had known since kindergarten to a much larger campus. It made it such a non-event for her that she barely even noticed she had changed locations.

I, on the other hand, am still struggling with the fact that I have one less child at home and experienced unbearable separation anxiety for weeks afterwards.

With the passage of time, as with all things, this has become easier for me to handle. It inspired me, in fact, to take a lesson from her that assimilating to a new environment, new task or new career even should truly be looked upon as a new opportunity...not "ugh...you mean i have to change again?"

It was with this mindset that I approached my 3rd reassignment in one calendar year. I went into the job (as mentioned in my first blog) with some doubts and apprehension which I masked with the enthusiasm that my daughter approached college life. By doing this, I opened the door to a wondrous new world.

In the few months that I was in that role (yes, I have shifted roles somewhat again since that time), I learned that I have a talent for acquiring new skills of my own.

While still not the savviest of social networkers, I have managed to connect with my kids, coworkers and family members via the multitude of sites available.

I have learned that there is no end to the wonder that is Excel and that math is not the enemy.

I have made new friends that I have never met but know really well because of today's technology.

In short, this old dog has learned a lot of new tricks...and it is true that quite often the student (child) becomes the teacher (parent)...and we can learn from everyone who touches our lives if we are but open to it.