11:05 a.m. - 2004-12-15
But why isn't the list getting any smaller?
So here's the thing - we had Andy's teacher conference yesterday, and I discovered three things:
1. Andy has a secret life
2. Andy doesn't push himself
3. Andy is lucky enough to have a teacher who wants to push him further
We are used to having the teachers tell us how smart Andy is, and how articulate he is, and how well he reads, and how well behaved he is. What we didn't expect is for his teacher to say she recognized his brilliance (her word) but that she worried about the fact that he is a bit lazy and doesn't push himself. At first I was shocked (run video of mother beating herself up emotionally, thinking it is her fault, that she isn't mothering properly, because it is all about her, her, her.) She wants Andy to read harder books, to work harder at math, and to participate more with the other bright kids in his class. When she calls on him, he invariably knows the right answer, but he doesn't raise his hand during alot of the discussions. The other stuff, we expected, because he does the same things at home: He takes everything personally, his feelings are easily hurt, and he says that people are mean to him (sometimes they are hurtful as kids can be) but mostly because they didn't agree with him, or do what he wanted to do. We've been working on that. Alot.
I am grateful that his teacher cares enough about him not to be razzle-dazzled by his politeness, and that he hands his homework/assignments in on time. She wants him to do more. She wants him to reach his potential. How great is that?
So tonight, we start reading more books - together. We're working on the classics (per the teacher) and are beginning with Oliver Twist.
Oh yah - last night was the den meeting/holiday party/decorate the box for the box relay at the pack meeting event. No cupcakes in the couch, because no one ate the cupcakes. We made foam wreaths because the project tonight was wrapping. We sang songs, because the other project was singing together; and we gave unwrapped toys, because the final project was charity.
Spouse had his work holiday party (pot luck at another faculty member's house) so he wasn't there, but it worked out - even with the two mothers who brought their toddlers.
Tonight I have no where to be but home. YAY! Five more days before we fly to Flora Dora for Christmas.
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