<p>S1 will soon leave to college like many kids of the dedicated CC parents. It’s a good time for all of us parents to think about the unsung heroes of our children’s success. Number one on my list is the wonderful woman who took care of my kids for 13 years until my husband started to work at home a few years ago. She has been there from the time S1 was 1.5 years old and held S2 10 minutes after he was born. She started as our nanny and ended up as a trusted and treasured family friend.</p>
<p>This is the letter I wrote to S1 (I prefer a letter format when I want to share with him something that calls for a thoughtful reflection, rather than an immediate reaction).</p>
<hr>
<p>XXX,</p>
<p>I would like to suggest something……</p>
<p>I think it would be a class act for you to take YYY out for dinner or lunch – something- before you leave home to Chicago. Even though you go to her family party, something special you have not done yet that you make a point of doing for YYY will be a wonderful thing!</p>
<p>She poured her heart and soul into providing you with the most nurturing and emotionally stabilizing early childhood environment for you. More so than I could have ever done. She deserves a special recognition. </p>
<p>You may not realize now, but one of the most important success factors for all people is the emotionally stabilizing early childhood environment. In my career in a field full of really bright people, I have seen countless examples of people who are not living up to their potential due to the “inner demons” of varying degrees of ferocity stemming from less than ideal early childhood experience. </p>
<p>You are turning into every parent’s dream of a child. Most of it is directly attributable to you. Yet, you are not just a product of your own genius. People like YYY made it possible.</p>
<p>I hope you find a proper way to let her know that you are aware of it. This will mean a world to her, and it’s within your power to make her so happy.</p>
<p>Mom.</p>
<hr>
<p>the other day, S1 took her out to probably the most elegant restaurant in town, and paid for the meal with the money he earned as an intern this summer, which carried an extra meaning. She stopped by my house after the meal, and the joy and gratitude in her face was so moving and heart warming. Honestly, I felt happier that he took her out like that than anything he could have done for me. </p>
<p>S1 is a very ambitious kid with a brilliant intellect and personality to match. He has all the markings of a very successful individual later in life, and will end up exerting a lot of power one way or the other over a lot of other people. It is especially important to me that he will become someone with a net positive impact on other people’s well being. I have seen way too many uber successful people who leave a trace of wreckage on other people’s lives. I hope my wish will be fulfilled…</p>