I'm not sure what I should do. Mark is having a really hard time adjusting to Junior High School. If you know him please don't talk to him about this, it would embarrass him. It's hard for me, his mother, to see him in tears every day. The other kids are mean, they have foul mouths, and the other kids are just plain mean.
He is begging me every day to homeschool him. I'm torn. I work from home and I am responsible for our household and yard. I don't feel qualified much less have any more time. What do I do?
We keep trying to give him a pep talk, you know, "just give people time to get to know how wonderful you are."
In Tempe, they have middle school, which is 6-8th grades. The 8th graders were schooled in separate buildings so the younger kids didn't have much interaction with them. In retrospect, I think this is a great idea. Here in Mesa, and I am a product of Mesa Schools, it seems like every man for himself.
You want your kids to be able to handle the challenges of the world, but, what do you do when their sweet sensibilities become forever altered by this earthly experience? Some of these kids have such filthy language. Don't they know that it doesn't take any intelligence whatsoever to talk this way?
I think as a society, we have stepped away from being that village that raises a child. Apparently it's anything goes. What is the point of making rules when the adults won't abide and enforce them? This is why we have girls dressed like street walkers, and boys that either don't own a belt or decent underpants. If I see another pair of "stank drawers" I'll have to excuse myself to heave. Of course, there is the very real fear of getting sued. What a sad commentary on our intelligence and common sense. Common sense doesn't get the big payoff in court.
Back to Mark. I love him so much, and I can't make everything perfect for him, but, how do you help so that he doesn't become so completely broken and miserable?
Your thoughts please.
2 years ago
8 comments:
Mark will make it. He has a challenge and he will overcome it. Pray for him and his classmates. He will be a better person when he finally adjusts to his new environment.
Grandma says......
Lots of church-like companionship should help, maybe. Depends if he has LDS friends/leaders he can rely on and connect to. Not all LDS kids are even nice... not when I grew up in Utah!! Is why I have left that "LDS" state and never want to move back. "The Iron Rod doesn't run through the large and spacious building" is a great quote to remember. Remember Nephi, whose brothers mistreated him? He tried to change them, but had to run for his 'life'... still had to deal with them from afar, though. As long as Mark has some sort of support system, he'll fare okay. We love him... and all of you!
Oh Charmen! It just breaks a Mom's heart. I had an awful experience in JR high, I ended up completely changing all of my friends. There have to be some kids there that have similar values and he can get along with. I just got myself busy with sports and music and found friends with the people doing those things too. I hope that things get better soon.
I'm sorry this year is starting out hard for him. I don't have any words of advice, sorry. Like the others said, maybe just have him hang out with good friends, or try to make some new ones that share the same values and good language. I'm also a product of Mesa schools, but I think the tough thing is just the jr high age. He will overcome it eventually. Good luck and keep us posted.
Pray with him each morning that he can make a good friend, and have good experiences.
I like the idea of finding some activity he would enjoy and making friends that way.
I'm sorry he is unhappy, I hope this passes quickly.
I am so sorry. Kids can be so cruel, and they don't even think about how terrible they are being and how it affects others. I feel terrible for him! I agree that gettting him a hobby/sport/activity will help a little bit to take his mindoff the bad stuff at school, and hopefully he can meet a friend with similar interests. I hope this passes and kids start being nice! We'll say a little prayer.
Daniel is in 7th grade now too. I think I was more nervous that whole first day of school than he was. It has been an adjustment, he's had to learn more responsibility, and he always says there are "wierd" people at school. I told him there are wierd people everywhere. Keep hanging in there with him, and hopefully things will look up for him!!
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