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Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Not ready

School starts tomorrow.

I'm not ready for it.

I don't want to battle with J-man this year. I don't want to fight with the teachers to get help for him. I don't want to yell, scream, cajole, beg, plead, bribe, and cry to get J-man to complete and TURN IN his homework.

I'm exhausted and school hasn't even started yet!

There are plans in place. I've talked to the principle and he is going to provide me with the workbooks for all of J-man's classes. He will no longer have the excuse that he "left it at school". If he comes home and says he doesn't have homework, I will provide him with a page or five out of his workbook to do for me.

I can't let it slip this year. We - meaning me, Carl and the teachers - are going to have to stay on top of him.

BUT - the kid has matured so much this summer. And I think he has learned a lesson. Maybe I'm getting myself worked up for nothing. J-man knows why he was held back. He knows what he has to do. He talks a big game right now, but what about when he is in the moment? Will he be able to concentrate and do the right things?

I can only hope and pray that things will be better this year. I honestly don't know what we will do if he fails again.

Nope.

Not going to think that way. J-man will pass. He has learned a lesson.

Right?

15 comments:

Some Guy said...

Right!

With some teamwork and some vigilance, it'll be a snap!

Marni said...

Chris: I always knew you were an optimist! :)

KLee said...

It's got to be so hard. I know that J-man will work hard, and hopefully, you will see a marked improvement. I think that with all of you making a good support system for him, and staying on top of him, a repeat performance of last year isn't likely.

Good luck to J-man. I wish him all the best for the new school year.

katy said...

good luck J-man, with all the support you have in place he should do well.

Cup said...

Think positive: He's learning now that there are consequences when you make mistakes, and he's learning at an early age how to make the necessary changes — lessons I learned just a couple of years ago.

a/k/a Nadine said...

Right. No question abut it.

Man, y'all start school so early in the South... We've got another 4 weeks of summer up here.

ccw said...

I hope that J-man has a wonderful year that goes smoothly for you all.

Esther said...

Wow, I didn't realize school started this early. When I lived in St. Louis I know we started in August, but I don't remember it being the first week!

Marni said...

This is nothing! A couple of years ago they started on J-man's birthday (Aug 1). They get out in early May, though...

I always remember summers being longer...

Ann said...

He's going to do fantastic. From what you've said, it seems like he really gets why he was held back and I think with a bit of encouragement (and good communication from the school so you can stay on top of things if needed), he's going to surprise you with how well he does.
Sometimes kids that age just don't understand how the choices they make today (i.e. not doing homework or doing a report half-assed) can really affect their future (i.e. getting held back, suspension from sports, not getting into the school they want to go to, etc.). Maybe reminding him of that if he gets off track will help.
Oh, and, Wow, I thought we start early here (Aug 20)but you guys have us beat.
What happened to the good old days of starting right around Labor Day?

Valerie said...

Best of luck with J-Man. I can only imagine what you are going through. I agree with Beth, stay positive. Self-fulfilling prophecy and all...let J-Man know you know he can do a great job.

Biddie said...

I think that he just might surprise you.
My kids don't start until Sepember 4th...

GrizzBabe said...

It's going to be a good year!

CindyDianne said...

Earlier in the summer when I saw y'all, J-man was clear then what it was going to take. Plus, it didn't seem that he was too keen to have the embarrassment again.

He will be great.

But DANG y'alls school is starting early out there!

jo(e) said...

Every school year is a fresh start, full of new chances and opportunities. I hope this year goes great for all of you.