I should have a t-shirt that says, "Be kind to me - I have two teens/college students who live with me." The only place I really want to be today is in bed with the covers over my head. Really - it is a beautiful fall day out and where I'd like to be is on a road trip. However, here I am with a bunch of stuff to attempt to get accomplished before next week comences.
BTW, Hubby woke up this morning fighting a fever, sore throat, sick stomach, and sneezing. Right. From J to me to Hubby. Jbird is feeling cruddy and I feel weaker than yesterday. Please don't let Jen be next. Add in two kittens who rank up there with having toddlers - well - I'm a little testy today.
MY plan is to continue to try and go over the material that Jbird doesn't understand. Remember - this is a disabilities student and he learns his own way (which is rarely the way things are taught). So I am learning music theory (think circle of fifths, diminished and augmented chords).
But today's plan goes out the door because I find out that Jbird has an assignment that he hasn't even begun and it requires research down at the college. Right. It appears my son has adopted my procrastination. But it is not JUST procrastination - it is truly that he has difficulty understanding directions - knowing what the assignment wants from him - and he is at the stage where "I want to do this by myself" and doesn't want to have to ask anyone for assistance (which includes the parents, the disability services, the campus counselor, or other support services they have in place) This is definitely not a good thing considering all his other challenges. Which includes a funky immune system that allows him to catch and recatch everything that comes down the pike. And I must admit I lost it with him - which is also never a good thing because he can take an argument and turn it around real fast.
College is definitely different from when I attended. If you had an assignment and you didn't get it in -you got a zero. Get this: an assignment that Jbird was given wasn't completed by over half the class (they didn't understand the assignment - or so I was told by J) so the professor sends an email extending the deadline and the rest of the email sounds like something a teacher would say to elementary kids who need to get their rear in gear. It appears the same lack of responsibility that my Hubby sees and I had begun to really see when I taught over ten years ago - goes up the chain.
And the child wonders why I've decided to attend a family support group at NAMI. One of the ladies in my painting class has a child who came back from his service time with mental health issues (which our government acknowledges is their fault but won't tell the family what happened - thankfully the gov is taking full financial responsibility). Anyway - she told me how much they have helped her. I remember Jbird's pediatrician telling me years ago that when J reached this age it would be really difficult and that we all might need some counseling. I guess he was right.
Well - if you've read this far - thanks for hanging in there. When I get my stamina back I'll be in better shape to handle the daily challenges. :)
The whole college/responsibility thing is fascinating, isn't it? When I was at IU 10 years ago, only certain profs really held onto deadlines. The whole atmosphere was more of "suggested deadlines" and even exams could be retaken sometimes. It was very strange for me, having come from an environment where missing deadlines meant failing. Not all classes were like this, but it was more relaxed in general.
And then my son started kindergarten in the public school last year and got all these awards for *gasp* turning in all of his homework, as though it were rare, and I was astounded that they reward kids for everything they are SUPPOSED to do. I get the whole positive reinforcement thing, but having "quiet parties" for those kids who are quiet in class that week and handing out monthly rewards for not missing school and doing your homework...why the constant celebration for doing what is expected?
Posted by: Nuwanda | November 17, 2009 at 05:02 PM