My daughter graduated from college last week, and although I've known her for 22 years, I'm still amazed at this miracle that has grown from a good idea in my mind into a fabulous, full-grown person. When I thought about having a kid, the reality was completely vague — like, "Oh honey, I love you so much, let's make a baby." Despite having had two younger siblings, I really had no clue of what raising a child entailed, and although friends tried to give me some inkling, they all concluded (as I have since) that there was just no way to explain it.

But someone really ought to try. This is one of the courses I believe should be taught in high school, in first- or second- or at least long before I-missed-my period. At one time there was a program for high school kids who wore fake tummies around for a few weeks, or had dolls entrusted to their care, but that addressed only the physical needs of children. What's the best way to raise an emotionally healthy child? My daughter's a child psych major, so I may have to consult her for the answer to that one.

Here are some other classes high schoolers should have to take (or at least have the option):

Money basics. How many kids finish high school knowing how to balance a checkbook, let alone apply for a mortgage? If kids are taught how to buy a house, invest in the stock market, start a 401K or 529 fund for their own offspring's college education — basic information like that — we'll be much less likely to have another mortgage crisis in another 20 years.

Auto mechanics and sewing. Horrors, right? In the public high school in my town, there was an academic track and a trade track. But my high school taught only the basics, supplemented by diction (I kid you not), Latin and French. These have definitely been useful, but here I am, lo these many years later, useless under the hood of my car. I can't sew worth a damn either, and it really would be nice to be able to fix the zipper on my own jeans.  

Communication. How do we get what we need and help others to get what they need? I'm not talking about grammar (though Lord knows "me ‘n' him" as the subject of a sentence drives me nuts), but being in relationship with friends, partners, and strangers in a way that is more of a win-win. People don't know how to ask for things, or ask others what might work for them, so we often end up being quite uncivil.

I'm not sure how high schools would work in all these extra classes, but I'd happily have given up algebra or trig for any one of them, even then. I chose Art over French IV and it was one of my favorite high school classes ever.

In truth, there's not much likelihood of any of these classes getting into the general curriculum any time soon, so if you're in parent mode, you might want to seriously consider a little home schooling on the side.