Back then I got straight A’s at school. Dermott sat behind me.

Dermott didn’t do his homework, tried drugs early, slept in class. I liked Dermott. He was one of the cool kids, always smiling. He accepted me, a nerd.

Deep down I thought I was on the “right path” and Dermott was on the “wrong path.”

Today, Dermott is one of the most successful businesspeople I know. He fell into Wall Street, got his own seat on the Exchange, has a beautiful wife of many years, and a rich family life.

Why am I telling you this?

My seven-year old is nervous about an aptitude test he’ll take on Saturday. It determines if he gets into the third grade “honors class.”

I told him about Dermott. Dermott didn’t “get started” until he was in high school. Dermott’s success was not contingent on his third-grade behavior.

“Zachary,” I said, “whether you get into the honors class or not will have virtually no impact on your lifetime success. Your success will depend on many things: Your interests, luck, who you meet in life, what you pursue.”

“You like to learn and we love you for that. You like to play soccer but you don’t score a goal every time. You don’t have to do ‘great’ on every test either. Feel good you are trying your best.”

Your child’s aptitude

My thoughts today, parent-worriers, is this: If your child has Dermott-like tendencies, don’t despair. How Junior does on his third grade math test will not likely have an affect on his/her future.

Do you agree?

Good luck from a fellow Dad,

:: Joe Hage ::

P.S. 7,000 kids in America die from sudden cardiac arrest each year. I set up a discount site at http://UrKidatSchool.com where 19 AED defibrillator to protect your kids at school are available (as of this writing). Please seriously consider getting one. (Disclosure: I work for the company that makes them.) Thanks.