“So let me help you, let’s find a strategy that allows my child to get the best out of his educational experience without creating stress for us all.”

I am chilling at work last Thursday and my coworker tells me I have a phone call and “it’s important”.  I answer the phone thinking its work related and realize, very quickly, that’s the call is just the opposite. My son, a first year middle schooler is already challenging one of his teachers.
His teacher tells me that he has to redirect him a lot and when he does he is met with attitude.

While I am not surprised by the message I am hearing on the other end, I am a bit surprised that I am getting a phone call at the end of the second week of school. Damn it!

Here’s the reality of the situation. He is not the sit still type. He needs to be active throughout the day. The idea that he must sit at his desk and listen to the lesson and expect him to be fully engaged and excited is not a reality.

He requires learning that is engaging.  He will not respond positively to anything otherwise. Do not expect him to act like a student robot.

Please do not compare him to other children as I don’t compare him to his siblings. He is an individual with his own interests and unique characteristics.

Thank you for calling me to tell me what I already know. He can be a challenge to deal with. I deal with the same challenges at home. But I have learned through my many years of parenting that what works for one child doesn’t work for the next.

So let me help you, let’s find a strategy that allows my child to get the best out of his educational experience without creating stress for us all. It is in your best interest to find out what works best for you and him because, believe you me, at his age, he doesn’t care about his future and will cause you more stress than you care to deal with.

Trust me, I know that your job is incredibly challenging. I would ask anyone to pursue a job in middle school education. It’s rough out there. Yet, you have signed up for the job so let’s make it work. I will do my part, I just ask that you do yours.

Thanks!

~Hilda

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