just got off the phone with my eldest son [15, H.S. freshman]... my heart is sad.... you see, he has just managed to fail his first-ever class; math. dad and i are both teachers... in fact, he goes to the same HS where Dad teaches..... so it's not easy for me to accept the grade. yeah, i know that there isn't anything i could have done, and i know it's a painful lesson for him, but i found myself choking back tears as he cried to me on the phone... even though math was hard for him this year, he does admit to not applying himself as he should have. he tried the old and true, "the teacher sucks, she doesn't know how to teach, blah-blah-blah". no excuse son... you had every tool imaginable available [Dad has even taught the same course].... you messed up, and will now have to pay the price. regardless, i feel like sheit, i ache to hold him and tell him we'll work through it....
and work through it we shall.... he has the option to not take summer school, and just take an exit exam on august 21st. so looks like he WILL come out to visit, and he WILL study 2 hours a day all summer....
[sigh].... hey buddy, i'm hear for ya, just a phone call away, and you'll learn a valuable lesson, and you'll overcome this, and..... i love you.......
your #1 fan,
Mom
3 comments:
srsly......*sniffle*
Been there, done that. When circumstance precludes you from being the "in charge" parent, disappointing things happen.....
You're there for him. That's all you can do.
*Unless you'd like a C130 Gunship strike on your ex*.....oops, that was my outside voice....
Keep caring and sharing. It's what makes you ...you.
I had a really horrible math teacher: he actually said "It is not my job to teach you, it is your job to learn."
He'd been saying similar stupid stuff for long enough that I lost my temper and asked "Then why are they paying you?"
No answer, and the SOB kept his job-- he would honestly read the chapter from the math book, write the equations on the board from the teacher's book example, and then go set and read for the next hour.
I passed-- I'm good at math-- and I busted my ass to make sure everyone else did, too. My mom is a teacher, too, and anytime I needed help I could go to her or dad.
Pathetic little man.
I sympathize if his teacher was as bad as mine, but yeah...mass suckage, life is like that, have to pick up the slack.
yeah, he'll be picking up the slack all right... talked to the math department chair, and she has agreed to tutor him while he's out here... she'll even give me the teacher book so that i can help as well.....
it will only *hurt* for a little while.....
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