Mark is pretty pissed off right now.
Because Mark is an at risk student because he's done poorly in the past, the teachers are watching him like a hawk this year.
He's not happy about that, but as I tried to explain to him, he brought that on himself by being a slacker.
See, yesterday, Mark put his head down on his desk and the teacher thought he was sleeping.
Because he has fallen asleep in class in the past, they are on him like white on rice this year, and snapping at him as soon as they see past bad behaviors.
Then the teacher spoke to the guidance counselor, who then turned around and called me.
When he came home, we talked about it.
He swears he wasn't asleep, another student even told the teacher he wasn't asleep because they had been talking to each other the whole time, but again, they see him doing anything that looks like bad behavior, they are on him.
He's really not happy with me or the teacher right now.
He started being really physically upset, saying that he is trying, he is doing his work, and they are yelling at him.
I explained again, they are watching him because of what he did in the past which caused his grades to suffer.
He says he's stressed out, but he is really trying.
I told him his only recourse now is to prove everyone wrong. To get good grades and do all the work, to show them that he can do it, because they are looking at his past, and basing everything he does on that past.
We pretty much ended up yelling at each other, he mad at me because I yelled at him for falling asleep in class when he says he wasn't. He says I don't believe him.
It's not up to me to believe him and defend him.
He has to prove to the teachers he's not doing anything wrong, or they'll keep calling me.
If they call me, he and I are going to be having talks the whole year.
I said I don't want the phone calls, I don't want these talks, but if you are slacking off, that's what's going to happen.
So he pitched a fit threw some toys at the wall and broke them.
Not my toys so, it didn't hurt me any.
I just told him not to break anything of mine or his brothers.
If he does, he'll be in more trouble.
Right now he and Sebastian went for a walk to the store, to calm down, and get a soda to drink.
I'm hoping he comes back in a better mood.
Comments
hey there….at some point in time your postings on parenting have caught my attention…and at Bond’s Big Leather Couch…
Should we bubblewrap our kids protecting them ever feeling pain, loss or suffering?
Should we insist on all things being equal…eliminating competition and forbidding recognition of individual or team achievement?
Should we encourage our kids to take advantage of their attributes, skills, and knowledge to strive to be the best they can be…and be ranked higher than their peers?
Should we get provide classes, lessons, tutors and coaches to give them the edge…to a point where they have no real free time to actually be a kid?
What do YOU think?
*Kat edit*
Your extra url has been stripped out, it is not allowed.
Posted by: katherine. | August 30, 2007 5:42 PM
He's still younger than mine, and he will learn. No head on desk!
I know how wearing this shit is, as a single parent.
You are doing all the right things, from what I can see.
And I know you won't back down.
It takes a lot of energy, and even the reserves of said energy, to handle the fights and arguments.
Hang tight, sweetie.
Posted by: lattegirl | August 30, 2007 8:22 PM
You know, that's too bad that they are watching him like that though. I understand the reasonings, but still I can see why he's so stressed out.
Wouldn't it be nice if they could just give him a "clean slate?" Everyone deserves a second chance.
{{Mark and Mom}}
Posted by: Jules | August 31, 2007 1:59 PM
I know he deserves a clean slate too, and I asked the guidance counselor to do that. She said if they are easy on him, he has a chance of sliding right back into old habits.
They think that because the last 2 years, when he was slacking, teachers ignored it, didn't stay on him, so they are basically trying tough love now. Stay on him, make sure he knows they aren't going to let him screw up, and hope he doesn't screw up.
He knows he fucked up. He admits it. He says he gave up, didn't care, would sleep through class, goof off, tell jokes, he just didn't care.
He knows now that if he does all that same shit, he's going to fail out of school and his whole future will be screwed.
I wish I could make the school ease up, but I see their point. They really did ignore the bad behavior before. Instead of getting on him, they would just pat him on the back and say try harder. It didn't work.
Posted by: Kat | August 31, 2007 2:11 PM
I feel so bad for Mark, but you are absolutely right.
Posted by: Devilish Southern Belle | August 31, 2007 5:55 PM
Kat, It is tough being a teen boy. But I'm sure Mark will get through it o.k. Just love and support him and let him know your always in his corner.
Posted by: Johnny G | September 1, 2007 2:49 AM