Not-So-Normal Mom

I have so much to be thankful for, but mostly, I'm thankful that I have such a great family...

Peace Out,
Mom

Well, I've taken most/all of his privileges. He doesn't have his cell phone, the PS2 is gone Mon-Friday, and he can only go to a friend's house once a week, on the weekend. He also doesn't have use of the computer, unless it is school-related. There are other things in place, too. For example, he is required to do homework every day at the table with us for one and a half hours. If all of his hw is done, then he reads at the table. He has read more novels in the last couple of weeks than I have seen him read in years.

I know that all of this won't make much of a difference for this grading period-there are only four weeks left. However, all of these things need to be in place so that he can start the next grading period off right.

I am torn with him because really, if he would just do okay in school, the boy would be damn near perfect. He's funny, good-looking, and a really good big brother. He doesn't talk back, and doesn't give me any grief-except with the school work.

I also don't want to be super-strict. I am not that kind of mom. I can't be with him forever. He needs to learn how to take responsibility for his own actions and deal with the consequences if he doesn't make good choices. Unfortunately for him, that may mean taking these classes in intercession or taking this grade over. Maybe that will wake him up.

Peace Out,
Mom

So now that the elections are over, I'm going to go back to talking about the jumble of craziness at home.

My oldest son is slowly trying to kill me. We got progress reports on Halloween, and his grades have dropped even further, which I didn't even think was possible. He was kicked off the cross-country team and he is now required to attend math intervention on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. When we talked to him, he didn't have any kind of attitude at all; he just seemed resigned to the bad performance. He said that he just doesn't feel like doing homework.

So how do you deal with a boy who is so smart, but is the first to admit that he's just lazy? How do you motivate him?

We have changed around our schedules so that after school, we are always home when he is, and we have taken away all video games during the week. He is required to do homework for at least an hour after school, and all of us sit at the table together to do it.

Still, I got a call from his math teacher saying that he still isn't turning in his work. If he's doing it, why isn't he turning it in???? He says that he forgets.

I am just at the end of my wits with him. I'm so frustrated. I consider myself a good mom, but when it comes to what is happening with his grades, I am a complete failure. I just don't know what to do.

Peace Out,
Mom

I never thought that it would happen in my lifetime. We have elected the first African-American President!!!!! Yes we can!!!!!! I am so proud of us! :-)

Peace Out,
Mom

It is so very important to get out and vote!!!!!! It is both your right and your responsibility.

Although we don't always agree, I encourage you to vote for whomever you choose to vote for-even if it isn't my guy.*cough*Barack Obama*cough*
Do it!!!!! Vote!!!!!

Peace Out,
Mom

image borrowed from http://antsinmepants.blogspot.com/2007/05/save-kitten-vote.html

If you are in California, Vote No on Prop 8!