Right, so I have blogged before about my son who just turned 14 last month (for more on that see my post from Jan 12) Well, he is in the eighth grade and once again this year  he is failing in school. The school has a website that parents can check each class and assignments etc and we try to keep on top of it but as of the end of last week  he has 3 D’s, 1 C and yes….1 F…….the end of the current trimester is next week and all I can say is…..bloody hell!! His dad and my husband and I have talked to him till we are blue in the face, he has lost privileges etc and been grounded and nothing seems to phase him.

I spoke to my ex the other day and asked what his thoughts were on the situation and he like the rest of us is just tired of the same conversation. He just says well, maybe he will have to go to summer school……yes, maybe he will. I know that none of us can do the work for him and he just doesn’t seem to be doing anything he is supposed to be doing and it’s breaking my heart and driving me crazy at the same time!  I feel responsible and I know that really isn’t logical but…..sigh…..

He quit wrestling about a month into it, he said it just wasn’t for him and I can appreciate that but I was hoping it would keep him on top of his school work…..and it didn’t work. (bummer!) I quite honestly don’t know what to do….he is a bit old for me to go to school with him.  I know that it isn’t good for parents to bail their kids out of situations that the lesson is lost then and maybe he will have to go to summer school but what he doesn’t and  if he just barely squeaks by the eighth grade…..how can that be good?  Next year it all starts counting and if he has done so poorly up until now how can he possible do better if the concepts aren’t learned along the way?

He really has made his own bed, the teachers see him as a goof off and a trouble maker and I am sure are done trying to give him any extra help and I really can’t blame them.  It used to be different in school, kids misbehaved and they got sent to the principal and maybe got a hack and it was over,  a little public humiliation and that usually ensured no further upset in the classroom.  Now it’s all meaningless, it makes no impact and I can imagine the teacher’s frustration at not being able to handle a situation with a kid who is misbehaving.  For me, just seeing a paddle hanging up on the chalk board was motivation enough.  I had to wear gum on my nose once in the fourth grade for the whole afternoon which wasn’t fun……but I never chewed gum in class again!

My sons attitude is really bad, he just doesn’t care at all and that scares me.  He is just apathetic and on top of that feels he can treat people badly and it is OK.   His friends all seem the same as well, not bad kids really but just don’t like school, don’t care about school and don’t seem to care about any repercussions down the road.  I know kids aren’t thinking far ahead into the future, they live in the moment and what is in it for them at the moment and I am trying to get him to realize that the decisions he makes now might and can affect his future!  Am I just not getting it….??? Should I just shut my mouth and let him fail?

I was “Joe Student” in school and really liked it for the most part, there was parts that weren’t fun but generally I really liked school and I liked my teachers!  Maybe he will do the reverse of me and do crap in high school and better if he gets a chance to go to college…..( I can hope and pray anyway!)

I sound a bit like my parents when I say that I just don’t understand the kids of today…..I don’t want to lump them in a great huge heap or anything but from my own experience there are many who are just like my son.  They don’t care about anything and just want to play computer games or whatever and that is about it.

Well enough of my droning on, any thoughts would be most appreciated……

I’ll be back again soon with happier tales I am sure…..

Cheers!

“The Frustrated Mom”

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