It's been three weeks and homework with Alan is still an ordeal. Here's a recap:
Sept 8: He zips through math, stalling with English. He decides to trace a paragraph instead of writing it in cursive. He complains of headaches again. I threw a fit this week, writing his teacher a mad note about how Alan is so stubborn and coniving and maybe he should be put back a grade. Ok that might have been a bit over the top, but I was PMS'ing.
Sept 19: More stalling, but better this week. We also started karate classes. If he doesn't do homework, then karate is out. I didn't do much management this week.
Sept 26: Continued stalling, but no headaches. Instead, this week's illness is extreme heat. He had pages returned to him from last week's homework because it wasn't done.
Friday, September 26, 2003
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Behavior
Today Alan came home and cried like a baby. He was so upset, I had never seen him react like this. After holding him for a while, he was able to say he got another behavior point. This makes 5 points and he thought that took him down a rung to an S in the behavior grading system (Excellent, Satisfactory, Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory) and therefore out of contention to be a School Patrol next year.
I've never seen him this upset and it pulled at me terribly. He mentioned that he's tried to do something different at school, but every time he hasn't been chosen - testing for Promise was the example he brought up.
I tried to cite examples of things he does do that are super - taking karate and soccer. But they don't count, because they aren't school activities.
After a nap (for the both of us) I told him that I was still very very proud of his behavior. Just last year he was consistently getting N's. To expect him to jump two levels to an E is preposterous. I told him that he still has an E, and if he does get more points, he's still doing wonderful.
I've never seen him this upset and it pulled at me terribly. He mentioned that he's tried to do something different at school, but every time he hasn't been chosen - testing for Promise was the example he brought up.
I tried to cite examples of things he does do that are super - taking karate and soccer. But they don't count, because they aren't school activities.
After a nap (for the both of us) I told him that I was still very very proud of his behavior. Just last year he was consistently getting N's. To expect him to jump two levels to an E is preposterous. I told him that he still has an E, and if he does get more points, he's still doing wonderful.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
GM: It's Been Fun, But I'm Bored With You
Somehow, I feel like I should be in a confessional, but I'm not Catholic so I don't do that.
As some of you might remember on my first GM trip back in February this year I decided to give GM products a try. Since then I've been faithful and haven't used anything else - not even my usual ACV rinse.
I like the GM products and they like my hair. No problems at all.
But
I'm bored! I'm tired of using them all the time. I've tried to think why I'm so bored. The products are simple to use and that's a plus for me. They give me great feeling hair afterwards. I do love the creme rinse.
I want to smell something different! That's what it is.
So I'm going back to Suave Humectress. It smells like coconut.
Sorry GM, but I'm moving on and leaving you. I might take you back into my shower one of these days, but for now I'll be taking someone else.
As some of you might remember on my first GM trip back in February this year I decided to give GM products a try. Since then I've been faithful and haven't used anything else - not even my usual ACV rinse.
I like the GM products and they like my hair. No problems at all.
But
I'm bored! I'm tired of using them all the time. I've tried to think why I'm so bored. The products are simple to use and that's a plus for me. They give me great feeling hair afterwards. I do love the creme rinse.
I want to smell something different! That's what it is.
So I'm going back to Suave Humectress. It smells like coconut.
Sorry GM, but I'm moving on and leaving you. I might take you back into my shower one of these days, but for now I'll be taking someone else.
Friday, September 05, 2003
Homework blues already
This week started off well (well it was a holiday, how can it be any better?) but ended poorly. Alan waited until the last day to do his homework. I kept reminding him every day to do a page, but he ignored me. I promised myself that I'd be easy on him Mon-Wed and then on Thursday get after him like a duck on a June bug. And so I did. He didn't like it. He tries to bring his homework into the living room to watch tv as well. Not a chance, and he's perturbed. I tell him he does have a choice - bedroom or dining room. More comments about not being fair.
Now don't get all bothered, he didn't have a lot to do - 1 page of math and 2 of English, but they are front and back. He naturally went for the math first and I helped him on some of the problems, but it went smoothly. He tends to skip the instructions and go for the problems and that gets him in trouble. Then came English work. Instantly, he gets a headache. hmmm, interesting. Ok, I said, just do this page and rest some. Nope, headache's terrible mom. Fight ensues, but it's quick because I won't have any of that. I send him to bed. He goes to bed, obviously not sleepy, but has to because it would blow his cover. All evening long, he pops back in to complain about this or that. I send him back.
We've been over this last year, and he knows that tv isn't to be turned on until I get home. But he's been watching it this week. He says he 'forgot' which doesn't wash with me. When he calls I give him suggestions - do your homework, put away your clothes, read for 20 minutes, write your spelling words. All of them has gone ignored.
But I'm not upset yet. Next week, because he's done poorly this week, I'm going to take the time and do homework with him. I need to make a schedule....
Now don't get all bothered, he didn't have a lot to do - 1 page of math and 2 of English, but they are front and back. He naturally went for the math first and I helped him on some of the problems, but it went smoothly. He tends to skip the instructions and go for the problems and that gets him in trouble. Then came English work. Instantly, he gets a headache. hmmm, interesting. Ok, I said, just do this page and rest some. Nope, headache's terrible mom. Fight ensues, but it's quick because I won't have any of that. I send him to bed. He goes to bed, obviously not sleepy, but has to because it would blow his cover. All evening long, he pops back in to complain about this or that. I send him back.
We've been over this last year, and he knows that tv isn't to be turned on until I get home. But he's been watching it this week. He says he 'forgot' which doesn't wash with me. When he calls I give him suggestions - do your homework, put away your clothes, read for 20 minutes, write your spelling words. All of them has gone ignored.
But I'm not upset yet. Next week, because he's done poorly this week, I'm going to take the time and do homework with him. I need to make a schedule....
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
A Clean Sweep
I cleaned off part of the deck this weekend. Lots of dead trees from neglect. I don't know if the raintree will survive, but I'm hoping. I need to calm down and not get overwhelmed. I tend to go overboard on things, I need to take small steps and move on.
You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
Ah.... the new school year. Grace is in 7th and liking classes and classmates despite having to wear uniforms now. Alan is in 4th and doing likewise but without the uniforms. Can it get any better than this? I think not.
But just to make sure we started off straight and on the right path, I wanted to reinstate the Poker Chip Payment Plan. Only I forgot the combination to the lock! ARGHHHHH! I'm dumber than dirt.
Dr Gunzberger thinks we are doing well and to see how things are going in 9 weeks. He's right - if Alan is doing well, then the praise goes to him and him alone. If he were on pills and doing well, the praise would go to the pills and not recognize the advances in maturity Alan has made. So time will tell. Keep your fingers crossed.
But just to make sure we started off straight and on the right path, I wanted to reinstate the Poker Chip Payment Plan. Only I forgot the combination to the lock! ARGHHHHH! I'm dumber than dirt.
Dr Gunzberger thinks we are doing well and to see how things are going in 9 weeks. He's right - if Alan is doing well, then the praise goes to him and him alone. If he were on pills and doing well, the praise would go to the pills and not recognize the advances in maturity Alan has made. So time will tell. Keep your fingers crossed.