Am I the only parent that has a child who apparently thinks his parents are idiots?
Here's the background setting....This is Nathan's first experience with Middle School...which also translates into the first experience with "grades". No more cushy elementary school..."meets standards or exceeds standards" ....It's A, B, C, D or F baby!. Last term wasn't the best of grades but we gave him a little slack while we explained the grading process and the importance of turning things in and being responsible. Last week I got his latest mid-term grades in the mail and about hit the roof....let's just say they definitely DIDN'T "meet standards" for that smart little cookie. Anyone who is getting a "C" in band and a "C" in an expanded reading (yes...it's a class where you just read books the entire time)....is just not getting it. So, Bob and I became the "worst parents EVER" and pulled ALL discretionary activities.....this included pulling him off his basketball team....yep....it's the WORST a mother could do.....Now here we sit, the week continued with many excuses that had me saying, "Nathan, do you think I'm an idiot?" And, every night there was basketball, I had to repeat... "No, I told you that you aren't playing basketball with grades like that. You've been academically disqualified!!!" I would get a look of, "What...Are you SERIOUS...you're crazy"...as if this is the first time he is hearing it. So, today....mind you we're now heading into the 2nd week.....Nate comes home from school in a sad, sad mood. He gives me these sad puppy dog eyes and tells me that he's sad because he hasn't been able to do anything the whole week. I said, "Yeah...too bad you chose to waste so much time all the weeks before"....then he tries the ultimate by saying that it's not his fault that his grades are bad......WHAT?!?!.....Does he honestly think I am THAT stupid?? Yet, I hold my tongue and ask him to explain. He gives me this lame excuse about a debate thing they had the week before Christmas and that he did good on his part but his partners did really bad. So now he has all his points that he needs for an A but because of that debate he is getting a B. Ohh...he's been thinking this thing out....I can tell....he even has his eye contact and body language all figured out. I wonder if he practiced with his friends at lunch. It was working great until I said, "Well, that is just not fair....I'll call the teacher for you right now." The look of horror and disbelief showed in those blue eyes....so I asked, "If I call the teacher and have her explain to me why you're not getting an "A"...do you honestly think she'll say, "Well, the only reason is because his two debate partners really stunk it up?".....pause....mind racing....and then came the most brilliant answer of all from him ..... "I don't know, maybe." (And of course there was no eye contact. ) As I picked up the phone, I asked, "Would you like to try your story over".....of COURSE he did. Phone back in the cradle and Nate walks off royally ticked! Oh yes....stupid mothers are the smartest of all!!!
To Nate's credit, he is working really hard and is being obedient....although with his head hung low. I am currently re-thinking my strategy. It's obvious that I am going to have to do some re-directing on my follow-up with this brilliant one. He LOVES laziness :)
