I remember worrying about my son starting middle school and all the pressures that go along with living through those middle years. But at the moment, I'm thinking I'd be happy with the worries of zits, girls, and lockers.... instead of GED tests and College.
Today I met with yet "another" 6
Th grade teacher to discuss options for my oldest son.
WHY? Because I'm not sold on the ideas that his other teachers have given me for him.
They want me to get him hooked up with all these on-line courses, college prep materials etc.
Yeah, let's just SKIP JR. HI ALL TOGETHER... and while we're at it, we can forget high school too. Who needs dances and sports and proms?
Basically, they don't think I'm "pushing" or "challenging" him enough. And guess what, they're right... if you consider success based on production of work.
I'm not sold on that idea that I need to push him any more because I'm not sure he's ready for that. Not just because he's not interested in becoming the next boy genius (and he's not), but because life if more than just acquiring knowledge.
Ironically (because I'm a teacher), academics aren't a big priority around here. It's more about teaching them to love God, know God, love family, and love sports. * not always in that order.
At our consultation today, we were encouraged to have him take the GED test within the next few week, and begin classes at the
JC this summer to see how well he'd enjoy taking classes there in the Fall.
He's already passed the high school exit exam as an 11 year old. Yeah, the one they give to 18 year old seniors before they graduate. His lowest score in any sub category was a 94... so I'm thinking the GED wouldn't be too hard for him.
But,
WHOOOOO.... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? G.E.D? COLLEGE??
They want me to have my kid skip 7
th grade, 8
th grade, as well as his Frosh to Senior year of high school... just like that???
Again, ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???
He just turned 12 for
Pete sake ... like, yesterday- literally!!!
He's a baby. He has no business being with kids that much older than him! He's mature in some ways, but life experience counts... and he just doesn't have much of that. He's a VERY young 12 year old in a LOT of ways... and I LOVE that about him. I love that he'll do whatever we ask him to do, he'll go
where ever we ask him to go, he'll BE whatever we ask him to be. No questions asked... he just does it! Usually with a happy heart because he trusts use implicitly!
What a treasure that is! What a
responsibility that is!
Oh, that I don't let him down.
There are a million
questions racing through my mind. What about sports? What about friends his age? What about trying to get him to appreciate this God-given gift (which HE SO DOESN'T see as a gift)?
I wish he'd have come with instructions.
A recipe I could follow.
Directions I could read, understand and abide by.
After the meeting today... I felt like I'm really letting him down as his mother. I HATE THAT FEELING!!!
As I
prayerfully consider what's best for him, I don't feel any closer to knowing what that looks like, or sounds like, or feels like. I'm painfully aware that what I'm doing now is probably not enough... but REALLY...
And as much as
Jr. high and high school wasn't all of my fondest of memories... I can't imagine just "robbing" him of the
experience all together.
My hubby thinks we have to at least consider it because that's the advice we've been given by so many different professionals, and friends who know him.
I...
I just don't know.
THOUGHTS ANYONE???
No one is more happy than Kyle... he just couldn't fathom another tournament.
He was too busy getting ready for school... in his own way.
These showed up today...
I sure love this kid... 
