Weary Parent: Parenting Tweens & Teens

Staying on Track in High School

by Christine on March 6th, 2008

It was an eventful morning. We had our big meeting at the high school with our oldest. The kids were shocked to see me up at that way-to-early hour in the morning. Usually dad gets them off to school while I’m still sleeping. I have a feeling my teen was hoping I’d oversleep and miss the meeting. I could see the look of fear on his face before we even left the house.

When we got to the school he stopped at his locker. He said, “Do I have to come with you?” When we said, “Yes,” he took off towards the counselor’s office. He walked sprinted at least ten feet ahead of us the whole way. He never even looked back once. I’m pretty sure he was praying that nobody would see him with his parents. Either that or he was trying to lose us in the hallway in the hopes that we would never find the counselor’s office.

We met with his counselor and two of his teachers. His PC Operating Systems teacher started. (On a side note, this teacher looked like he was about twelve-years-old. He made me feel very old. Aren’t teachers supposed to be old with a full head of gray hair.) The twelve-year-old PC teacher showed us the assignments that are currently missing. Assignments our oldest told us were completed. I looked at him and said, “I thought you said those assignments were turned in.” He immediately burst in to tears. I was torn between being mad that he lied to me and sad to see him crying. [I’m such a sap when it comes to my kids. I hate to see them cry.]

His history teacher went next. She explained that he does great on the tests, but she can’t get him to turn anything in. When the counselor asked him why that was, he couldn’t explain it. That’s the same response I get from him when I ask him too. He knows it’s important. He knows he needs to get it done. But he still doesn’t do it.

In the end the teachers and counselors reiterated everything I have been telling him for months…years even. He’s a smart kid. He’s a very respectful and polite kid. There aren’t any behavior problems. And he has a lot of potential. I was so glad he was hearing that from somebody besides me. I think it probably means more to a teen when they hear it from somebody who isn’t required to love you.

I was also glad to hear that, even with two Fs from last term, he will only be .5 credits away from where he needs to be at the end of this sophomore year. His counselor assured us it absolutely is not too late and he can get back on track.

So what was our solution?

Our school has something called the Success Center where kids can go to get help on homework. They have teachers in there for English, Science, Math, etc. to offer assistance to the kids. The counselor decided to replace our son’s study hall with the Success Center. He will have a designated teacher assigned to him, helping him with his homework and tracking his progress.

I am so excited for this extra help. He will be 16 next month and I realize at this age he should be responsible for himself and his work, but that’s not working. So I am thrilled the school is offering this help. I have high hopes that this will help him get on the right track and succeed. We’ll see how the rest of the year goes.

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