What a difference a year makes. How many of us have uttered those words before? I think I say that most when I am referencing some sort of stage that my children have gone through. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, I guess. Or that's what they say.
The emotional ups and downs of having these little human beings in my life, and being a parent responsible for raising them leaves me dazed and confused. One minute, I think I'm just about the best parent since sliced bread, and the next, I am continually questioning my ability to take on such a daunting task.
Last year, Chickie struggled in school. Don't get me wrong, she excelled, but only through sheer diligence and stubbornness on her parent's side. I can't tell you the amount of times "she forgot she had homework," or would forget to turn it in, or swear it wasn't her fault and that the teacher never told them. The one excuse I loved was that her locker was stuck so she couldn't bring her books home. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.
The scary part about that is I had the same traits at her age. Ok, I probably was like that all the way up to my senior year. Hi mom!
This year started out the same, but I handled it differently from the beginning. I sat down with her and asked her what I could do to assist her in succeeding. Since she has a heavy schedule with dance (4 nights a week), and is fully cognizant of the fact that if she does not do well in school, she will have to cut back on the number of classes she is taking (think shoving bamboo shoots under her fingernails or eating broccoli), she was more than willing to listen.
I monitor her assignments and grades, and she has a book in which she keeps track of assignments. On her own, she has gone to the teachers and had them initial the homework she has recorded, so that we know she has her ducks lined up in a row. It may be a crooked row, but it's a row. I've always been partial to abstract art. This doesn't happen every day, but it does occur enough to let me know she is paying attention. It's a bit of an effort on my part, but it certainly has paid off.
She got her progress report today. 3 A's and 2 B's. Her goal? Is to bring everything up to and A (she's pretty close). I told her that if she keeps trying like she is, I'm sure she'll achieve it, but if not, I am seriously proud of what she has done. In reality, she's done it herself. Sure, I monitor things in the background, and sometimes give her some reminders. But I have only had to question her one time on missing assignments. Some, she had already done but weren't posted on the website. Other's, she had forgotten to do. But she immediately did them, on her own.
So, for today, as of right this minute? I'm better than sliced bread. Maybe even as good as cinnamon raisin toast.
Comments
Way to go Chickie (and mom). You are both better than sliced whtie bread. Your assistance has been a positive confidence builder for her and I'm sure she will continue to succeed now that she can see the wonderful results.
Posted by: motherkitty at September 11, 2006 9:40 PM
Rah Rah Rah
You Rock!
Have a wonderful day!
*^_^
(=':'=) hugs
(")_ (")Š from da Cool Raggedy one
Posted by: Raggedy at September 12, 2006 1:32 PM
Chickie - Result, Uncle G be Very proud of ya :)
Moogie Im proud of ya too always knew you could do anything you set your mind to, I can still remember the threats no wait promises to sent the kids over *laughs* I remember IRC too but will say no more now...
Posted by: G Dawg at September 12, 2006 4:14 PM
