I
am a father of three beautiful, talented and amazing children. This is the
first year in which each of our three kids attend a different school. Our
mornings are hectic and we are crunched for time, so that I may get each child
to school without being tardy. They rarely eat a nutritious breakfast to get
their day off to a great start. Sometimes my 13-year-old goes to school wearing
his 7-year-old brother’s shirt or shorts. Many times, my 7-year-old goes to
school with mismatched socks, orange shorts and a red shirt, as if he is
auditioning for a part as a clown in a school play. Neither boy makes any
attempt to do anything with their hair. My daughter, who is now in high school,
has a closet full of clothes, yet she keeps a solid rotation of five outfits
she prefers to wear week after week. I’ve resorted to hiding things, just to
make her wear some of her other clothing.
This
year, the kids are in 2nd, 8th and 9th grade. There have been many ups and
downs along the way. I’ve learned that I have to be able to handle each
challenge and each child differently. Compared to those years when I was going
through the public school system, it seems like a whole new world today.
I always thought I’d be the good dad, who would sit down and help my kids with their
homework when they needed it. When my oldest two began junior high, they both
struggled in math. I figured this would be my time to shine . . . Dad to the
rescue! I quickly realized, this thing called “Common Core” was beyond my
comprehension. I felt helpless, and like some sort of a high school dropout
with 6th grade level intelligence. I had to set up tutoring sessions for each
of them during 7th grade. While my daughter caught on and ended up getting good
grades for the year, my son did not. He struggled all year. His struggles in
math, led him to give up in other classes as well. He wasn’t doing his
homework, or attempting to retake tests for better grades. He started to lash
out with the teachers. He teetered between an F and D in math, and D and C in science
and history all year. It wasn’t until I took him to the doctor to get a
checkup, I realized his prescription for ADD was no longer working. After
getting an adjustment in his meds, he was able to finish with three C’s in
those classes where he had struggled. He has started his 8th grade off with all
A’s and I couldn’t be more proud of him.
I
felt pretty good about getting a teenage daughter through junior high, without
many issues. I have tried to be up front and honest with her about the things
she will be introduced to throughout her school years. I had pre-warned her
about the possibility of boys asking her for inappropriate photos, and sure
enough, her school was in the news, as police confiscated phones from 7th and
8th graders who were sharing these types of photos. I was happy to learn she
was not involved. Now she is a freshman in high school. She has a good heart
and she is beautiful inside and out. Just last week, I found out she has a
“boyfriend,” who according to her, was a sophomore. I had a discussion with her
regarding high school boys, dating, and my expectations.
The
very next day, a family friend whose son attends the same school, called me and
informed me my daughter is holding hands in the hallways with a Senior. His son
had sent him a text about it. I spent the rest of the afternoon digging up as
much info on this boy that I could. My daughter and I had a long night of
talking that evening, with what I believe to be good results. I did have to
ground her from her phone for lying to me, which she understood.
There
are so many things that can cross up our children as they make their way
through school, grade by grade. As parents, we have to give them room to learn
and grow from mistakes, yet we have to constantly be aware and stay on top of
things so we can keep them safe from the huge mistakes.
Herb Cody is a husband and father of three. He is a
part time Uber driver and full time caregiver of his spouse, who suffered
a traumatic brain injury after an auto accident November, 2015. Herb loves
football and is a St. Louis Cardinals fanatic. He and his family live in Nixa
MO. Herb can be reached for questions or comments at herbie05@yahoo.com
You can check out Herb's own blog at www.thecodylife.weebly.com
No comments:
Post a Comment