describe yourself

Riley had an assignment to do an art work that describes yourself, a mobile, or a shadow box or what ever you wanted to do to represent your personality. One teen decorated a football. Riley made a stage theater in a shoe box. He said he didn't like to do art projects though as he wasn't very good at them. He said he was happy, liked science fiction, and loved to read, his favorite animal is a dog, and he is patriotic. The finally was he liked to fly, and had flown a plane. He said they clapped. So I asked if they clapped for everybody. He said yes, but for his it was "particularly loud" because they thought it was cool he had flown a plane.

He also told his cousin that he found high school to be easy. This is the boy who is taking honors classes full load. They aren't really hard he says. Tomorrow we meet at 7:00 am with his teachers to discuss his 504 plan. I am guessing we are tabling it until spring. He is so happy to be in school. He sings in his room nonsense songs, loudly. He studies without complaint. He gets his work done. He loves getting a milk shake from Burgerville at lunch time every day. What I want to know is who his friends are. If he has met people, started a social network.

Tonight was open house at two schools for me. I didn't even get home from work in time to attend all of Trevor's teachers. He needs the attention more, so I felt bad. The tutor seems to have been worth every Penney this last summer. Trevor has been able to complete his math in class and keep up. We will see how long that lasts. I did wave at the teachers. Bummer is conferences are during our make a wish trip. So I will miss all of them then also.

I did make most of Riley's orientation. There was a segment on safety on line. 40% of students have an on line chat area like face book or my space. I have not yet let the boys have their own sights. A friend had a bad experience, so I told my boys no. Most of their friends don't have face book accounts yet. There are a few though.

Another thing discussed was graduation requirements have gone up. I am not so worried about Riley as I am for Trevor. I hope Trevor finds this to be a turning point year for him. The tutor tried to show him that the difference between an A and a D was homework handed in on time. Riley already gets the game.

Riley finished reading his independent reading book this weekend. The new first Chronicle of the Dune Series about the machine wars. he wants to get the next one now. This is something that was supposed to hold him all semester. He was already reading Ray Bradbury at school for class. He enjoyed the science fiction and got right away the depressing nature of his stories. They were reading the short stories. I remember how disturbing they were when I read them.

It is so strange to think that six months ago, Riley was at death's door and now he is happier than most high school freshmen. He showed me his pictures taken at registration. He looked nervous and tense. I told him I wanted smiles. Retakes are on Friday. I told him I would buy new ones for him. He said OK. He said I was the one making him nervous that day. He was probably right. Sending your child off to high school is scary.

Here I am going back to work, abandoning my child to the system. Failing to make appointments with the teachers on time for Trevor. I am going to have to do better juggling my schedules. I need to pay more attention to dates and times. I know its not rocket science. Everyone does it. I just have to learn quickly, before I blow any other important meetings.

So I am a little frazzled tonight. My boys seem to be doing better than I am regarding my new schedule. Tom had Trevor at practice on time. Trevor tells me he is getting his work done in class. I will check with the teachers to see if that is true.
I have faith Riley can handle his load, even though he didn't tell me orientation was tonight too for the high school. I ran into another parent with children of similar age. She told me she was heading to the high school for orientation. That is what alerted me. Thank goodness Trevor's practice for football was at the high school right by where we were meeting. I was able to slip out of the meeting and back in again when it was time to pick Trevor up.

We did drive thru for dinner after 8:00pm, when I finally found breathing room to get food. Trevor said I didn't buy him enough and he was still starving after dinner. Next time I will order the party platter. tom was content with his portion thank goodness. We were home by 8:30. Bath time has to happen with football practice, so bed time is a little late tonight. This was a particularly busy Monday.