Parent Teacher Conferences

My younger son Jack is a freshman in high school. He likes high school a lot better than he did middle school, which makes me happy because I tend to absorb my kids' moods through some kind of weird mom-osmosis. He's having a better year, therefore I'm having a better year.

He's a unique kid and a joy to have around, but he's definitely his own person. My sister once said, "Most people grow up and eventually become the person they were meant to be. Jack was born that person and is just waiting to get there." Okay, I paraphrased liberally and I'm sure she said it better than that, but you get the idea.

Going to his parent/teacher conference last week was a positive experience because he's doing well and the teachers all had good things to say. Considering that teachers see over 100 kids in the course of a day, and that school has only been in session about six weeks, I found it impressive that each teacher seemed to have a real understanding of my son.

One teacher said, "So many times kids are only interested in the grade. As long as they score well, they don't care about anything else." Long pause, which worried me. And then, "Jack is just the opposite. He doesn't care about the grade. He just loves to learn."

I said, "So what do you do with a kid like that?" We both laughed a little, and the teacher apologized for the flawed system, which requires grading as a measure.

Jack has always been this way. One time I pointed out that there wasn't much difference between the B+ he was getting, and an A -. "With a little bit of effort," I said, "you could notch it up to the next level."

"Yes," he answered, "but then where does it end?"

Where does it end, indeed. Really, he's right. It just goes on and on. If you do more than people expect, pretty soon they'll start to expect you to do more.

Even with his lack of grade consciousness, he's getting terrific grades, so I can hardly complain. One teacher even said, "I'd love to have a whole room full of kids like Jack." A compliment, I think.

As long as I'm talking about Jack, I have to share something he said off-the-cuff, after I spoke derisively about boredom. I thought his take on the subject was unique and quotation worthy.

"Bored is the happiest a man can be. All his wants and desires have been fulfilled." Jack McQuestion

And with that bit of wisdom (?), I bid you good day!

Karen