Rave instead of Rant

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2007
Rave instead of Rant
2
Tue, 03-27-2007 - 9:36am

This weekend was the Spring festival at DS's school. While trying to avoid the silly string and waterballoons of the middle schoolers, I started chatting with one of DS's teachers. She asked me "does he get in trouble at home?" At first, I thought he was getting in trouble at SCHOOL and that she was suggesting laxity at home was to blame.

Then she clarified that DS is SOOOO good at school ALLLL the time (well, all the time she notices -- I apparently know a few things she doesn't lol). She just raved about him for a while. How she wishes he was in her homeroom, how he is so smart, and so focused. She asked what he wants to be as an adult, saying she expects he will do great things. Usually teachers avoid parents at these things because they don't WANT to have "shop talk" at a social event. So I was very surprised!

WOW!

I can rant a lot about my son. Maybe it's because I'm a 24/7 single mom so the little things can really start to rub me raw at times.

But maybe I should be more expressive to him about what a great kid he is.

He has gotten straight As since 5th grade. Perfect attendance since kindergarten.
He volunteers for numerous things at school.
He assists with school PC maintenance and video productions, maintains the school aquariums, runs sound for the annual talent show, helped the science teacher prepare for a grant--which she won, works in the library.
He has helped with younger kids and worked cleaning up the gardens.
He is volunteering at the local zoo for three 40-hour weeks this summer.
He's been recommended for an invitation-only, residential science course at a local college this summer.
He actually SAVES money (paid for most of his own PC at age 8-9). Mows lawns to earn money.
Is a Scout (he's starting to hate it, but still).
Does fencing and soccer.
Has gone from being non-social to being pretty well-liked (esp by the girls ::sigh::).
He makes me laugh.
Still holds my hand (when no friends are around.)
Doesn't use bad language (so far) AND loves his Grandma (has to visit her at least once each week.)
Oh, and he's pretty cute too.

I'm sure you're yawning by now....

But I've written some long posts complaining about DS. The conversation with his teacher made me realize that perhaps I should be equally (if not more) focused on praising DS. And they say kids of single moms don't do well. HA! I think I have a GREAT kid!

Wanna rave about yours too?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
Tue, 03-27-2007 - 10:16am

You have every right to rave about your son. I find that the parents that rant about their kids are the ones that care about them the most and as a result, the kids usually are pretty good kids.

Congratulations on a job well-done!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
Tue, 03-27-2007 - 10:18am

Sounds like you have a great kid there!

Pam