Last year was hell. My boy's first year of middle school became a nightmare for him. He hated going to school. His friends, for some unknown reason, turned on him and made life miserable. The previous year, he was a happy kid, doing well in school and had friends - then last year, the complete opposite. I can't tell you how many nights I cried. The school gave good lip service, but in the end did nothing. My precious, love-to-learn, love-to-read boy disappeared. He got D's for the first time in his life. There was usually one A, but the rest of his grades slipped. He hated math, which used to be one of his favorite subjects. He thinks about math and comes up with his own theories! For him to turn his back on math... well , that was a big thing.So I began exploring alternatives. I visited all the charter schools in the area (knowing I couldn't afford the tremendous tuition at the private schools). There was also the Florida Virtual School, but for now it's not practical. I did find two charter schools that I thought would be great for him. One had a waiting list that went on forever, but the other had just started their middle school the previous year and had plenty of room there for my boy. Darling Man and I took a tour and talked to some parents who had kids there, liked what we heard, and put his name into the lottery for a place there. He got in.
And he loves it. He loves the uniform. He loves the teachers. He loves how small it is. That there's hardly any homework (but they do work hard in the classroom). And it shows.
Friday morning, he woke up happier than usual... because progress reports were coming out! He couldn't wait to see how he was doing. He bounced off the bus in the afternoon and as soon as he got in the car, he pulled out the progress report and waved it around smiling. One B (in Lanugage Arts, which was kind of weird) and the rest were As! Including an A+ in math! He's so pleased with himself and wants to bring that B up so he can have his first ever All-A's report card at the end of the semester.
I'm so proud of him! And I'm so glad we moved him to this school. It has done wonders for his self-esteem, building it back up from the battering it took last year.
Every now and then, I do something really, really right!
9 comments:
How great! Tell him I'm proud, too.
It must be heartbreaking for a parent to send a child off to school every day knowing that he is going to be miserable--or worse--mistreated by other students and, let's be frank, sometimes teachers. Your boy is a lucky one to have parents who love him enough to search out a better situation. And he's re-paid that concern with good grades and enthusiasm about learning.
That makes me smile. I'm glad you were so proactive.
My son starts middle school next year and I am terrified for him. Mainly because he has been attending a private school (K-12, but the elementary goes to 6th grade). We've always planned on sending our kids to Public school once they reach middle school. Here - that starts 6th grade.
He is a shy boy and i feel like I'm about to send him to the wolves next year. If money was not an issue - I'd keep him at the private school where he knows everyone and has his core group of friends.
After reading this - I am now thinking about what I can do to keep him where he's at.
I would have done the same as you!! Good for you for sticking to your guns on this one. Bullying is not something to overlook, I'm glad he is happy there :)
What a turn around! Congratulations to you for your brave decision and to your lad for doing so well.
I'm so proud of him! And proud of you too! He's a lucky boy to have parents who saw how miserable he was and made changes for him. I'm so glad he's in a happy place. And I love that he has only a little bit of homework - it's sad that kids spend all day in school and then have to spend 3 or 4 hours at night doing more work. Kids need down time to be kids and it sounds like his new school has that figured out.
If every parent was as involved as you, there wouldn't be any kids bullying other's children.
woohoo. hey I was thinking of coming up with a weekly 'thing' to keep me blogging. how would you feel about joining me? I think you'd enjoy it. It could be a photo or a post or both but revolving around 'just fishing' (have you heard the song?) the idea is that the little girl thinks they're just fishing, but really she's spending an afternoon with her dad and he knows she'll appreciate it later on, even if she's just 'living' it in the moment as a fishing trip. Kind of a 'go mom' or 'go dad' moment for the week. what do you think?
You do right by Z all the time. Just sometimes you have to travel the footpath thru the woods to get there as opposed to the expressway. And sometimes we have to bump into a few trees along the way.
You do an awwesome job.
Yes 2 w's in awwesome for the extraordinary(sp?)job that you do as MOM.
STANDING OVATION TO YOU my friend.
Stephanie
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