But last Thursday something cool happened.
My 4th grader wanted to talk to me. Not about anything in particluar. He just thought I was worthy of his time, thoughts, and conversation ... for the first time in well over a year! On the way to wrestling and again on the way home we rode, radio off, having a dialogue about nothing in particular. It was so nice. I remember thinking to myself, "Who is this kid?"
On Saturday Ike had a playdate at a friend's house. He spent 6 hours with the friend and the friend's mother doing whatever it is that entertains boys. When I went to pick him up the mother said to me, "There's a change in your boy. Whatever you're doing differently ... keep doing it." Of course this was the point I told her about our homeschool adventure.
That's when it clicked for me. The boy I was so frustrated with before --- the boy who whined too much, argued too often, and got straight A's in both 'Being Rude' and 'Refusing to Focus'--- he was changing. Take a boy away from the whiney, argumentative, rude, distracting environment and he will suddenly become a different person.
There are several notable differences in him. He makes his bed without being directed to, he uses his manners without being prompted, and joy seems to have replaced the discontent. I have to believe the change in his school envoronment has something to do with these differences.
Yesterday was Monday. It was also out first ski day with our co-op. It just so happened to be a ski day for Ike's old school too. As we the chaperones set up our 'camp' in the lodge, I felt a little intimidated to see the woman, who three weeks ago was my son's teacher, setting up her 'camp' not far from where we were sitting. My boy was excited to see his old friends and also excited to see his old teacher. "Mom! Can I go say hi to Mrs. Xxxxxxxxxxx?"
Yes.
I have never shared my feelings towards Ike's teacher with my son. When it came to making the switch to homeschool my husband and I shared only the "pretty reasons" for making the switch. Although I would have liked to throw my yogurt at the woman, I smiled and said, "Absolutely! Go say hello!" And I said it with a smile.
I watched as my boy eagerly made his way across the room. I watched him say hello. And then I watched her look at him. Look at me. And blow him off. Then I watched my embarrassed 10 year old make his way back to me. "Mom. That was weird. She was NOT jolly. Actually, she was awful."
I told him she must have been having a bad day and not to take it personally. Then we went about our day.
This little episode cemented my opinion that we pulled him at the right time. There is a way to treat people and a way not to treat them. I should be upset by the way she treated my son, a kid she had an opportunity to be a role model and mentor to, but instead... well, instead I am just grateful he is no longer being molded by a person with the capacity to treat a child this way.
So, onward and upward. I'd like to say I spent the day skiing with Ike. But he found friends to ski with before we even made it to the chairlift. So I tagged along for one run, and then I let him have a ski day. I spent the day getting to know some of the other homeschool moms in my area. It was a wonderful day.
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