Monday was report card day for Mason. I knew that grades weren't going to be at their best - traveling as much as we did and (all of us) not being on top of school work (or work work) during November and December...but imagine my surprise when my honor roll student came home with his grade card and had a big fat "F" in English! I was shocked and royally PO'd!
I asked Mason how this happened...he wasn't sure...maybe missing an assignment? (he had turned in an assignment over Christmas break...maybe that was late?). I took his phone, grounded him for the next 9 weeks...no working out at the gym with his friends, no driving temps anytime soon, no life basically. I lectured him, I may have even called him something along the lines of a "thug-head lazy butt" - I was not a happy camper.
I emailed his teacher the next morning. I asked for all his grades for the 9 weeks and for a weekly update going forward on all his grades, how he's doing with homework, tests, etc.
This is the email that I got back:
I don’t know what happened, Christa!?!? Mason was excused from a few assignments due to the funeral and given extensions on others, but he did NOT fail –he received an 85% B for the 9 weeks.
I have already contacted Guidance to correct this problem. Mason is right where he should be on the research paper.
To which my reply to his teacher was..."phew, that is great! ...thank God I didn't kill him before getting your email!!"
Mason's response: "am I still grounded??"
I have to admit, it was frightening to think that somehow something was going wrong or downhill fast with my teenager and I was apparently clueless. Ella and Si are still at easier ages to discipline. It becomes much more difficult with a teenager. Sure, take the cell phone, take the fun stuff...but what really teaches the consequences of actions and decisions made at this age? An "F" would have meant repeating the class, summer school, even not getting into a college that he might decide to go to down the road. How do Justin and I teach the importance of making good decisions at this age - because there are SOOO many times in young adulthood that a bad decision can have lifelong consequences.
Luckily, this time it was a mistake - but hopefully a good lesson for both of us!!
Luckily, this time it was a mistake - but hopefully a good lesson for both of us!!
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