Post 100 Days Parenting Update

My commitment - Increase my involvement in my son's education, making sure I check his agenda for homework (not just take his word for it) daily and that he has the resources he needs to excel in his current grade to be on track graduate in 2015 or before.

My Update:

I can say, that infamous quote "I'm not where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be". Back in elementary school my son had a problem of always missing homework or not turning in is assignments (my fault). I was determined not to let that happen in middle school.

Beginning 2008/2009 school year. I began on fire, this was my son's first year of middle school. I was NOT going to be a bystander in his education any longer. Allowing the circumstances I was in emotionally (due to my own bad decision making) rob him once again of an involved advocate/parent in his educational process. I meant it, I've follow through on that.

Did I check his agenda everyday? In the beginning, YES, after awhile I would have to say NO. No excuses. Daily I would ask my son, where's your agenda, do you have homework. Reluctantly he would respond, no or do the preteen thing, and ask "why?" There were times the agenda was written in many other times it wasn't for various reasons most of which honestly don't make much sense to me now. Teachers just weren't consistent in it and neither was my son.

I resorted to continuing something I began in October or September of 2008 with all of his teachers. Send a group email at the end of each week and ask, two simple questions: how is his behavior in your class? Is any homework missing? Please let me know by COB on Friday, have a great weekend.

That is something that worked for all but one teacher, (honestly when I got the clue as to what he wanted, that didn't work either he just didn't want follow up at all (not acceptable)). No longer did I receive numerous reports at progress report or report card time about my child missing 5 or 6 assignments. I was able to cut it off at the pass each week and come down on him like Ike hit Houston.

I can proudly say. That is something with the help of God, I have been able to figure out how to nip that in the bud for the most part. I'm finding this is truly a work in progress. His grades weren't up to par, not because he lacked the capability to do so. Far from it, I lacked the consistency to give the proper rewards and consequences to make sure he did his part. I began with it and literally forgot, that's when his grades fell from mostly As and a few Bs to a couple of Bs to barely Cs.

As a parent truly I possess the influence in him that makes all the difference. I racked my brain trying to understand what happened, then it hit me. The consequence and rewards he had I forgot to remind him about. As a single parent with many things going on personally and professionally, I hate to admit it but it slipped my mind.

As soon as I reminded him of it. Low and behold, I saw a shift in him. With only two weeks left of school it may be too little to late for 2008/2009 school year (for all As and Bs) but, I must say strides in the right direction for me as a parent have definitely taken place.

I'm creating a plan of improvement for next year and am determined to help both improve myself and son's work ethic in his school work. It's not going to be easy, but neither is being a trashman for a living in the USA.

No doubt I have light years to go, in my parenting abilities. No doubt I've also come many to get to this point. He's still on track to graduate in 2015!!!!!

Your thoughts welcome : )