With bad news comes the good, it ends up we are not stupid after all! My son had us worried that he may have some kind of learning disability. But today we are celebrating, he took a chapter test in his summer school Algebra class and got 85%! I am so relieved. It is amazing what a little studying and motivation will do (also the consequences of no computer, phone or skateboard). Now his grade is a whopping 69.5%. Most parents would be petrified, but we are dancing because he actually has a passing score and is only .5% away from a C. There are less three weeks left in this race and can you imagine the ego boost if he completes the class with a “C” or better? I promised him a skate boarding trip if he gets a B or better in both summer school courses. In Geography he got the highest score on the last test in the class, now he must have at least a B in this class. His teacher in an email commented “But, generally, he is a great student that is succeeding in this class”. I covet those comments historically I do not hear them very often.
It is not over till we cross the finish line but we are getting close therefore once again I will have to remain vigilant. Traditionally he falls behind is at the end of a semester. I understand that is very common with kids that have ADHD. He has not been diagnosed with ADHD, but I am beginning to wonder. Hopefully he can keep the momentum up to have a good finish.
This is the son that I wonder if we have neglected because we have put so much energy into his older brother and all of his issues. This is not uncommon when you have one child with special needs.
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I agree Karyn we have different bars for all of them and they need to understand that. It gets difficult and I feel badly when I see them just give up.
It’s amazing how a little perspective makes a big difference! I have 3 teens: one in college and two in HS. There have been times we’ve celebrated C’s for both my boys (one in particular). But if my daughter makes an A-, it’s a little disappointing. They are completely different kids.
My now senior son is very ADD but hates the medicine and doesn’t take it. We moved him to a school that wasn’t as rigorous as the previous one. He gets by without using meds. He took the ACT in April and bombed it. A 17. He’d made a 20 on the PLAN so we were definitely expecting better. Turns out he couldn’t concentrate and basically just bubbled things in. Not the first time he’s done that on standardized testing. So he took it in June, and used his ADD med, and we just learned he got a 20! He needs a 21, but there’s hope. Here’s the perspective: his little sister made a 24 on the PLAN last year as a freshman! We will probably be disappointed if she doesn’t make a 30 or 32 when she’s a senior. We’d go crazy for a 22 for him, and a 32 for her!
Good job for your younger son who is seeing what he can do!
One step at a time. There’s a lot to celebrate today!
Way to go youngest son!!!! That is exciting. I hope it motivates him to keep on doing what he is doing and succeed!