Monday, August 16, 2010

Middle School Blues

Homeschooling a middle school child can be hazardous to one's health. And it definitely should not be allowed the day after one's birthday, when the glow of cake, presents, and lots and lots of love still hangs in the air. And then the adolescent child squashes it flat. Like a pancake.

I love my children. All of them. Most of the time.

The Young Adult is bright - very bright. He was the toddler who, by the time he was 18 months, could count to 20, say the alphabet, and identify about 10 letters. So, yes, he is smart. But not as smart as he thinks he is. In his mind, he knows far, far more than his intellectually pitiful mother (obviously), and usually is much wiser than the pantheon of teachers (both in-the-flesh teachers, book teachers, and video professors) who shape his vast mound of wisdom.


I actually have inspiring sayings concerning adolescents taped to my bathroom mirror. I study these each morning, chanting parts like a mantra. It is similar to a warrior donning armor before going into battle.


The attitude....dear God, the attitude!


I feel like I am close to waving the white flag.

He wants to homeschool. He enjoys learning Latin, logic, reading literature, exploring different subjects. It is the actual work he does not care for. Oh, he will do the work, but it is trying to convince him that the work must be done well. That is the problem. Yes, the answers may be technically correct, but I am a stickler for things like grammar, spelling, and legibility. Silly me!

I am trying to remain calm and explain my expectations clearly. Work will have to be redone. Rudeness will not be tolerated.

Sigh.

Might be a long year!

3 comments:

One_crazy_mom said...

Hahaha! We have attitude issues here as well. "Why do I have to do all the problems?" "I can't find the answer!" "I did write neatly!" "Can't we do "X" tomorrow?" "Why do I have to read this?" "I did pay attention when I read!" And the list goes on and on..... Not to mention the overly dramatic tears of frustration because A still has not learned how to control her emotions. I feel your pain!

Unknown said...

I have heard all those, too!
L does not have dramatic tears. It is more along the lines of shrugs, sighs, the look of a patient martyr on his face....

Anonymous said...

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But, when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years."
-Mark Twain