Pull your hair out

Trevor blew off his homework from his teacher. I had him up two hours early once I realized he hadn't gotten it done, none of it. It still wasn't enough time. I had mentioned the homework yesterday, but he said he would do it later. I have got to find a way for him to do it during the school year. The tutor showed him the difference between having his homework done and not being ready was the difference between an A and a D. Guess what he got last year.

I told Trevor two to three hours of homework should not be unexpected this year. He will be an eighth grader and they will be prepping him for high school independence, ack.

We bought his school supplies. He tried to buy triple the list. He was going to give his teachers school supplies also. So sweet, but no guarantee they wouldn't hand them out to other students in need, when Trevor will be needing them along the way. I will be supplying spare pencils. That seemed to be a real culprit last year, not having a writing utensil. He claimed people had borrowed his and not given them back. I can afford pencils.

Riley had no real lists of supplies. I am told each teacher will let them know what they need. I figure they will want the same kind of supplies as any other teacher, but we'll see what additions there are to the list. I saw somewhere that a graphing calculator might be needed. Riley will go with a binder and papers for the first day. His locker is not even in the main building. Freshmen get last pick and all that was left was the Fine Arts Building unless you were willing to share your locker. Riley does not share. He will just have to carry everything he needs with him each day. His middle school has spoiled him with the lockers so conveniently located in the same wing just a short step from the classrooms.

I love that new students in high school have the building to themselves the first day. They get a tour to help them not to get lost. It is a big meandering facility with add ons and multiple out buildings. More like a college campus than a regular contained high school. Nice thing about small towns is there is still room to spread out.

The high school football field is getting its new turf still. Hopefully they will be ready for us to move over there for our practices next week. That is the plan if they are on schedule. Fields are at a premium this time of year between football and soccer. Youth football is crammed into a very tight area for all the teams. Not a lot of elbow room. Youth varsity will get to practice on the JV fields at the high school. Some parents with multiple children in the program love it right now because they can just walk from one practice area to another. Once Varcity moves, you have to choose which night to watch which child.

Last year Riley weighed just over 100 pounds in eighth grade. I told the coach I was fine with him playing down to his brother's team. A few of the smaller kids play on the JV seventh grade teams. They are just too light and small for the big boys that play eighth grade varsity. Trevor out weighs his brother by 60 pounds even though he is two years younger. Riley is not small he is just slender where Trevor is not slender at all. Same gene pool, just different family branches in the tree.

Trevor threw up again at practice last night, cheese burger pile. He took a water break and then was back out there again. Coach was impressed, asked him if he wanted a break. He said no. He was drinking his fluids. I bought him a gator aide. I think we need to eat earlier before practice, easily digestible foods. He is loving football. Others on the team asked where Riley was. Trevor told them Riley was seriously sick. They hadn't heard the story. They all listened then what I thought was nice is football practice went on. No one dwelled. Trevor is in his own world now, normal teen agers.

I watched him hit another player on the back with his hand. A huge grin on his face, all the boys faces for that matter. You could split their heads in half with the smiles. It was a hot and hard practice. Sweat poured off faces and shirts were soaked and smelly. Coach let them play a gear off touch football game at the end for a reward for a strong practice. I already see a difference in Trevor's running. He doesn't want to be last. He knee is stronger. I challanged him at squats, he smiled and laughed through the whole excersize.

I am glad Riley has a friend staying over. They go off and play. Everyone is occupied and happy with their own entertainment. I just wish Trevor enjoyed learning school work as much as playing football. I remember all the days I got called to school because Trevor was in the nurses station not feeling well. He wouldn't just go vomit from over exertion then back to the classroom. Oh no, he wanted to come home and watch TV.

Riley had a couple of Teachers that inspired him enough that he hated to miss their class. If they taught a extra carricular activity he would try and take it knowing it would be fun. Trevor has had a couple of Teachers that inpired the kids. He didn't get sick those years and try to miss school. I am hopeful each year that there will be someone with that pazzazz to energize the classroom and let the students know that it doesn't have to be work. Learning can be fascinating and its own reward.

Tom is reading Mises, the Austrian economist before there were economist. Its a difficult read translated from German and done 50 years ago so the volcabulary is a little old school. He is just doing it for his own edification. We discuss the chapters. I don't know if I would have picked up a book like that just for fun. I did read the Teddy Roosevelt story by Moore. It was a wonderful read. I may try to peruse Mises when Tom is done, if only to be able to stay up on the conversation.

If Trevor doesn't like a book, it is pulling teeth to get him to read it. Riley has learned some cheats, like first and last chapters and first and last pages in a chapter. It gets a book he doesn't like done. But usually he will read the whole thing, just because he likes to read. If Trevor likes the book its a breeze. Not like a book and the whole house suffers the complaints how thoughtless and cruel the teacher is, how it is so unfair and its a bad book choice. he spends more time complaining than it would take to just do it.

Riley got up today and did his chores and others without my asking. I think it was so I would be happy, and let him have his way with something later. I haven't figured out yet what he is after though.