Amanda Lamb: Weathering the storm

Despite the pandemic, the protests, and what seems like the constant threat of bad weather, the world is somehow still spinning.

It’s easy to forget that during these trying times, people have storms of their own brewing in their own lives that are unrelated to what is going on nationally. Yet, we’re all so preoccupied with these major events, and how we personally are affected by them, that it’s easy to forget we need to check in with people about difficult things they may be dealing with in their lives.

For example, if a loved one is recovering from surgery, going through cancer treatment, grieving the loss of a spouse, or the end of a marriage, all these are currently the focus of their lives at the moment. So, somehow we need to step out of our own bubbles of discontentment and be present for people who need us.

And I think this is a very important reminder to parents whose kids are no doubt impacted by the pandemic and all the events happening around the country. But at the same time, our children are dealing with their own storms.

Lately, at our house, it’s been the never-ending quest to take the SAT. Our daughter is a high school senior and she had multiple tests canceled over the past few months. We continued to sign up for more, hoping they will be held. She diligently printed practice tests from the Internet and worked every single day with the hope that she would finally be able to take it. About two weeks ago, we got a notice that all of the Wake County testing sites were canceling. She quickly went online and discovered she could get a spot in Johnston County. We crossed our fingers and hoped that it would not also be canceled.

As I write this, I am sitting outside Smithfield-Selma High School waiting for her to emerge from the test. For her, it’s about getting the best possible score so she can get into a college that she wants to attend. For me, it’s about ending all this extra anxiety these kids have had to deal with. I want her to be able to take a deep breath and feel good about the fact that she worked hard, set a goal and was able to meet it despite all the hurdles. In short, I want her to be a kid and enjoy her senior year of high school even though the conditions are not ideal.

So, in the whole scheme of the world, no, the SAT doesn’t seem like a big deal. But it is a big deal to my daughter, it is her storm, and so, therefore it is my storm. And I will continue to weather it with her until the clouds pass and the sky is clear, putting it at the top of the list above everything else because as parents that is what we are called on to do. Luckily, I have a lot of rain gear ...