Ian and Grades

One of the reasons we moved to this part of the county, Redmond, was that the schools are good. And they are. The teachers are compassionate and smart and encouraging. All of Ian's teachers are like this. How do I know this? Because I've talked to ALL of Ian's teachers at least two times since we moved here five months ago. Why? Because Ian is the student that I had that began my lifelong high school teacher mantra, "I'd rather have a not- so- smart motivated student than a smart- lazy one."

Which one is Ian?

Take a guess.

Ian's last report card read like a Polish last name - no vowels. He got one C, three Ds and one F.

Another one of my former high school teaching days mantra, "You have to work really hard to flunk a high school class."

Apparently Ian worked really hard at something.

Here's the thing about Ian. He just might be a little smarter than his brother Jordan. He just might be a little bit more athletic than his brother Jordan. Does this matter? No.In high school Jordan got the Citizenship Award. He got one of the Wall of Fame Award. He got scholarships based on his grades, ability to write and what a great kid he was. I'll be lucky if Ian gets the "Might Possibly Graduate from High School Award." 

In December I was at a college conference and had to speak on what I thought were the most important attributes to have in order to succeed at college. I spoke on the idea that smartness, for the most part, does not matter in college. The ability to work hard will carry you further than any other skill.

My fear is that Ian has none of these skills and will either join the Army (the Marines probably won't take him) or work for a landscaping company run by undocumented workers.

No, I haven't given up and neither has Mike. As parents we don't have the luxury to give up (or the money to send him to a boarding school). What we have done is taken away his TV, taken away time at the Skate Park, finally figured out how to login to Ian's daily class grades, taken away his phone and filled his spare time with the multitude of jobs at The Crazy House.

Here's the good thing about all this. Mike, in his retirement, has taken over Ian. Mike picks him up from school. Mike gives him his list of chores. Mike talks to him about his grades. Mike encourages him. Mike has the patience for him.

If he was not my child, I'd have the patience for him. Co-workers are always impressed with my ability to work with the most difficult students. This is true....when they aren't mine.

Quite frankly I'm tired of Ian. He has so much potential and what's scary about him? He reminds me of me. The way of blithely meandering through life. The way of approaching life on a "wing and a prayer," (my grandmother's analysis of my character). The idea that life will turn out, don't worry, be happy.

This may not be good.

My saving grace in my laissez-faire approach to life is that  I do work hard and I'm married to a down-to-earth, salt-of-the-earth kind of guy who shows me where I need to sign, keeps my car gassed up and understands that maps are not necessary for any kind of traveling.

All I need to worry about is getting Ian to graduate and then put an ad on Match.com for a rich, down-to-earth kind of woman who appreciates Ian for who is .

That's all.