Arden
Un amor, Una verdad
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2002
- Posts
- 26,574
Kids, Sports and Grades
Hi Dream! It sounds like you give your little guy a lot of love, you should be proud of yourself! Is there a "Big Brothers" or mentor program available in your area?
One thing you need to know about life in Texas, where Toni lives, is that sports are every bit as much of everyday life as getting up in the morning is. One thing that is huge down there is soccer for kids. Not just the boys, either, but boys and girls! I never saw anything like it when growing up, but everyone's kids seem to participate. Some children would have almost no interaction with others if they didn't play soccer, because all the kids in the neighborhood play on teams.
My son played on a soccer team for two years when he was about 8 or 9, and we let him quit after the second season. Bless his heart, he has always been so tall and has HUGE feet that he trips over constantly! (Still does, lol... he's 6'2 and 20 years old now - sz. 13.5 feet) Also, being an ADD kid, he couldn't concentrate on the game for long. They'd put him way back in the playing field, and you could sit there and watch him staring off into space while the game was going on in front of him!
Soccer, football and hockey aren't directly connected to the schools there on the grade school level. Soccer & football are run by the city parks & rec. department, hockey is usually independent of the schools. The grade schools have combined football teams, like 3 schools to one team. Same for the grade school cheerleading squads. But the kids do have to keep their grades to a C average to be able to participate.
Hockey is big in that area since the city team had a winning season a year or two ago. There are many indoor ice rinks in that area. My daughter took figure skating lessons for about 2 years, and was in competitions. She tired of it, and I let her quit. Later that same year she was on the 'drill team,' which is like cheerleading but no try-outs. They had cute outfits, pom-poms, and performed to music at football game half-times.
On grades, I think it's great that your son is motivated to please you. You're very lucky in that aspect. I always had good grades, usually above average, but like Toni, I had to work at them - especially math. (yuk!) I have one older sister that got everything so easily, A's all the time, she skipped 3rd grade and went straight to 4th, graduated Cum Laude when she got her Masters degree in business. ~Sigh~ The ability to get good grades, how hard we have to work to get them, and staying motivated are so very different for everyone.
With my son, having ADD and attending college for his first year, grades are HARD for him. This is the first time he has no supervision and must do it all on his own. He got mostly c's last semester, only one d, and a couple of b's. In his case, I'm thrilled that he's doing the work and passing. At last, he's putting forth some effort on his own. This is also the first school year that he is taking no medications for his ADD at all. I have no delusions that he might someday be a brain surgeon. I want only for him to have the skills to make it on his own, and have a happy life. I'm not saying that I don't expect great things from him, only that I have accepted that he doesn't have the ability to concentrate on studying as some do.
~Dream~ said:_______________
your Mom's philosophy and mine are exactly the same where grades are concerned.I have always told Jesse , if you are trying your very best and still bring home d's and e's=equiv to F ,then Mommy will not say anything but will just help you even more and I accept grades as such , too many parents PRESSURE their child to go into sports and make GOOD grades ,etc in my eyes..
I have seen friends of mine who have college degrees for cyin out loud that are working at 'burger-flips (Mcdonald's etc)..anyways I feel if the child SHOWS an interest in those things then if you at all possibly can , encourage and pursue that , raising children costs alot of $$ and the last time I looked good ole George W was not really raising my SSI checks all that darn much and it doesnt pay for me to work if I am gonna be punished fr it by having my check cut down..
I DO agree that as much education as you can get is important ,however too little teachers are truly concerned with your 'average' student nowadays and are more into promoting Mr . football scholarship ,or miss cheerleader of the year..personally that didgusts me... I was a popular kid in school but not cause I had money or prestige but because I TRULY cared for my friends..as I am teaching my son to..
Hi Dream! It sounds like you give your little guy a lot of love, you should be proud of yourself! Is there a "Big Brothers" or mentor program available in your area?
One thing you need to know about life in Texas, where Toni lives, is that sports are every bit as much of everyday life as getting up in the morning is. One thing that is huge down there is soccer for kids. Not just the boys, either, but boys and girls! I never saw anything like it when growing up, but everyone's kids seem to participate. Some children would have almost no interaction with others if they didn't play soccer, because all the kids in the neighborhood play on teams.
My son played on a soccer team for two years when he was about 8 or 9, and we let him quit after the second season. Bless his heart, he has always been so tall and has HUGE feet that he trips over constantly! (Still does, lol... he's 6'2 and 20 years old now - sz. 13.5 feet) Also, being an ADD kid, he couldn't concentrate on the game for long. They'd put him way back in the playing field, and you could sit there and watch him staring off into space while the game was going on in front of him!
Soccer, football and hockey aren't directly connected to the schools there on the grade school level. Soccer & football are run by the city parks & rec. department, hockey is usually independent of the schools. The grade schools have combined football teams, like 3 schools to one team. Same for the grade school cheerleading squads. But the kids do have to keep their grades to a C average to be able to participate.
Hockey is big in that area since the city team had a winning season a year or two ago. There are many indoor ice rinks in that area. My daughter took figure skating lessons for about 2 years, and was in competitions. She tired of it, and I let her quit. Later that same year she was on the 'drill team,' which is like cheerleading but no try-outs. They had cute outfits, pom-poms, and performed to music at football game half-times.
On grades, I think it's great that your son is motivated to please you. You're very lucky in that aspect. I always had good grades, usually above average, but like Toni, I had to work at them - especially math. (yuk!) I have one older sister that got everything so easily, A's all the time, she skipped 3rd grade and went straight to 4th, graduated Cum Laude when she got her Masters degree in business. ~Sigh~ The ability to get good grades, how hard we have to work to get them, and staying motivated are so very different for everyone.
With my son, having ADD and attending college for his first year, grades are HARD for him. This is the first time he has no supervision and must do it all on his own. He got mostly c's last semester, only one d, and a couple of b's. In his case, I'm thrilled that he's doing the work and passing. At last, he's putting forth some effort on his own. This is also the first school year that he is taking no medications for his ADD at all. I have no delusions that he might someday be a brain surgeon. I want only for him to have the skills to make it on his own, and have a happy life. I'm not saying that I don't expect great things from him, only that I have accepted that he doesn't have the ability to concentrate on studying as some do.
