So my smart, talented, handsome, 17 year old son has decided to basically drop out of high school. At least I wasn't gorging myself for no reason, right?
He suffers from depression and has been having panic attacks in school. Most of his friends were older and graduated over the past two years. His mentor, a drama teacher at the school died of brain cancer last year. His dad, Asshat, has had nothing to do with John for over 6 months despite court ordered counseling. John has gone and continues to go. Asshat is convinced that that only one with a problem is our son, so he doesn't need to go. He has willingly given up all contact with his oldest child. I don't get it, I'd be fighting every day to get back into his life, but I'm not him.
All of those things along with the suicide of a close friend at 14 got him way behind in school. We knew he would not graduate with his class, but the plan was for him to keep going for a 5th year and finish sometime that year. Well the rules have changed. They no longer allow 5th year seniors. The plan we have been been counting on for almost 2 years! Now he's welcome to complete all of his classes that he hates this year, but it won't count towards him getting a diploma, cause he can't come back to finish. The school is basically telling him there is no point in continuing, he won't graduate no matter what he does!
He's going to drop all but one class and hopefully find a job. This will count as a co-op situation and allow him to be involved with the goings on of his senior year, without wasting his time. We'll start working towards a GED after his class graduates (he can't do it until then).
This post may not even make sense, I'm just trying to get it all out there, spewing it out in chunks.
My son is very happy & relieved. I am mad, frustrated, dissapointed and sad. Plus this frickin' flu is still not gone! I'll get back to the real world soon, hopefully. I just have to deal with this & get my head back in order.
12 comments:
Is homeschooling an option? My sister did a homeschooling program during her HS years.
Good luck!
Mimi, I know things might look pretty bad right now but it really will be o.k. My son Jason dropped out of high school when he was 17. I won't go into details, but he later earned his GED and has been a success story ever since. Your son has had some pretty big obstacles to overcome in his short life and I know you are proud of him for hanging in there and making the best of it. Just being there for him and letting him know how much you love and care for him is what he needs most right now. And I can tell that you have already been doing that!! I'm sorry you aren't feeling well yet. Maybe tomorrow will be better! :)
AAACCKKK!!! That would really frustrate me too! But I agree with Emily. Sounds like your son has had some extreme circumstances to overcome. I will be praying for him and you. May God make the path clear and protect him along the way.
Hang in there my friend! You're doing a great job as a mom!
Oh and please don't eat all the ice cream. I'd like some too ;)
Oh Mimi. I am so sorry. I will be praying for both you and your son. That has got to be so hard on him. He has been through alot lately. Wow.
Your son has been through quite a lot. Gosh, no wonder he fell behind in school with all those sad things going on in his life. At least you wrote that he feels happy and relieved. Well, that's positive isn't it? And important!
Be cool Mimi, I hope everything will work out for him (and for you) and from what I've read in the other comments, there is every chance it will be OK.
Big virtual hug!
I am so sorry you are having to go through all this. I know it must be really hard, but try to remember, if He brought you to it, He will bring you through it.
Psalm 55:22 is for you.
My prayers are with you.
Sounds like your son is going through a rough time right now. And I'm surprised to hear that schools don't let kids repeat a year anymore. That doesn't make much sense.
When schools institute those kinds of rules, I think they need to begin them with the incoming freshman class and let the kids already in school go through with the old rules. So not fair for your son.
Oh no Mimi, that is terrible. Terrible that Asshat (who deserves a much, much worse name!!!) abandoned HIS own son at a time when he needs him so badly. And terrible that the school changed policy at the wrong time.
and I totally get the emotional eating. I do that....constantly.
how did i miss this post???
well, we talked about this on the phone, and you know my thoughts on it. everyday as a parent i have to adjust my expectations, wishes and dreams for my girls. that's just the way it goes sometimes... and school just isn't for everybody. you cant fit every one in little check boxes. some of us just don't fit! i pretty much already know that zoe will not be finishing school - she'll just go ahead and start job training when she's old enough. and that's fine. it's what will work for her. i think this is going to turn out ok in the end. i really do.
why aren't you getting better????
Oh honey I don't know why I didn't see this post when you posted it in my dashboard updates. ((hug))
Ugh! That's a lot to have on your plate, sweetie. For you AND him. I haven't read any of the other comments but have you checked to see if your state has free charter school? I think the program is called K-12 an they send you a computer and teach your kid online. It's really quite cool!
You couldn't pay me enough to be a teenager again.
Post a Comment