I am not looking forward to tonight.
An email from Hudson’s teacher flashed across my screen yesterday, letting me (us) know that he is at the end of his rope trying to get Hudson to focus and not fool around in class. He said this has been going on for about six weeks and even with threats of office discipline he will not settle down. He also said that his work has been suffering alongside these recent classroom distractions.
So what do we do? Is it all out discipline and ranting and taking away the things that are important to him? Or is it the warm and fuzzy sit down and chat and cuddle to try and figure out what is wrong? I am being flip about the latter because I feel we have tried this route and I feel like a giant pushover as whatever he was in trouble for stops for a brief spell before returning like the life coachy conversation never happened.
C’mon Hud, what’s going on?
We had a good conversation a couple of weeks ago where I let him know that all the things he wants, more freedom outside the home, the eventual cell phone, increased online access are all within his grasp. It is up to him to show me how responsible he is by doing all the things he needs to do without the constant berating from his mother and I. Make your bed, take showers, plan out your homework, eat responsibly, treat your brother with respect, put your crap away…that’s about it, it’s really not that much. If he did all these things regularly, I would grant him all the things he wants (within reason, no cigarettes or scotch before 14, that’s the rule).
But you know what? He does none of these things without incessant provocation. And now I am getting emails from his teacher about his behaviour.
There has been a catalytic moment within our extended family that times out pretty succinctly with when his teacher said Hud’s behaviour fell off. This event may have affected Hudson deeper than he would admit and he is having difficulty processing these emotions which are manifesting into acting out at school. That is one theory and it’s a pretty good one. I know a professional would very quickly ask if something has changed recently that may contribute to a change in behaviour.
The other theory is the rampant changing of his body. He is 5 ft 5 at 10 years old and is showing the onset of puberty. These hormones may be affecting his behaviour as well.
But I have no idea.
As I was out last night, Steph agreed to have him focus on his responsibilities last night and tonight we would sit down and talk and get to the bottom of this.
I don’t like playing the heavy, but I don’t like getting emails from teachers even more.
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