It has been a disappointing few days. On Tuesday I received a call from the school, MAC was having an issue. They had been pleased that she had used her emergency pass to get out of class but when it was time to go back to class she started to be unpleasant. After an hour of this behavior the school called to say that they felt she should go home.
We had a short conference with the Vice-Principal, guidance counselor and the school psychologist. None of us could get her to tell us what the problem was. While at the school she was uncommunicative and hostile, by the time we got home she was contrite and very self-depreciating. I just don’t understand how her mind works.
I got an e-mail from her math teacher Wednesday. She says that MAC doesn’t even try, when she was cleaning the classroom up she found all of MACs notes still on her desk and was asking for any helpful tips I might have. After all these years and all the books I’ve read I just don’t have any tricks/tips that we’ve tried that really work for any length of time. How do you help someone who feels they don’t need help?
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Let's Try....
After having to call the school to get a copy of her current report card I was surprised that she passed most of her classes. It wasn't pretty and she will never get into college with the grades she received but I am trying to be hopeful. She did not pass two core subjects and that has me worried.
She has been behaving well and the call from the school that came in on Friday was one that praised her for leaving a situation before it got out of hand.
She and I seem to have come to a shaky truce, I only harp on the items that must be done and she only yells that she hates me when she needs a break.
She has been behaving well and the call from the school that came in on Friday was one that praised her for leaving a situation before it got out of hand.
She and I seem to have come to a shaky truce, I only harp on the items that must be done and she only yells that she hates me when she needs a break.
Friday, February 3, 2012
What Now?
The third quarter has begun at CMS. We had meetings with the teachers, we have spoken with the doctors, and we have worked with her yet MAC is still in her own little world and although she says she understands what she needs to do I continue to get e-mails from teachers saying that she isn't turning in homework and not paying attention in class.
I am not sure what to do now. I have been trying to give her freedom to make her own decisions but am now in the position of having to worry about her truly failing this school year.
I am not sure what to do now. I have been trying to give her freedom to make her own decisions but am now in the position of having to worry about her truly failing this school year.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Reprieve
Last week was a wonderful reprieve. MAC was friendly, wanted to spend time with Hubby and I, and was even answering questions when asked. It was a nice family week.
That all ended last night. There was a doctor's appointment with the talk therapist and she seemed to have decided that she was done. For an hour I heard about how mean I am and how I get Hubby on "my side" during any fight. I also listened to her say some very ugly things to the therapist. She was angry and nothing we could have said or done could make it better.
I know that she is looking forward to going to the comic book store this evening and has been very happy that this week is a 2 hour early dismissal from school. I can only hope that she has decided to be pleasant at school even thought she isn't talking to me.
That all ended last night. There was a doctor's appointment with the talk therapist and she seemed to have decided that she was done. For an hour I heard about how mean I am and how I get Hubby on "my side" during any fight. I also listened to her say some very ugly things to the therapist. She was angry and nothing we could have said or done could make it better.
I know that she is looking forward to going to the comic book store this evening and has been very happy that this week is a 2 hour early dismissal from school. I can only hope that she has decided to be pleasant at school even thought she isn't talking to me.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Discussions
On Monday evening we received a call from MAC's new math teacher. The two of them do not seem to be working well together. The teacher called asking for some help in dealing with MAC's stubbornness. Apparently the teacher had told her to go to the bathroom to compose herself and she never returned.
Yesterday was the quarterly parent/teacher meetings. CMS apparently has a meeting where parents can drop in and speak with their students teachers. The 8th grade teachers were in the gym. Several lunch tables were set up for each of the core subjects and each of the teachers had a spot at the table.
Both Hubby and I were able to go yesterday and we got a chance to sit and meet face to face with the math teacher. We discussed some potential ideas with her and said that we would get back in touch with her after having a talk with MAC.
MAC has been complaining that we don't give her any chance to make decisions for herself. As a consequence we have been trying to give her chances to help determine her own path. We brought the ideas to MAC and asked her which one(s) she wanted to try. We came up with two: turning in her drawing journal and manga for 3/4 of the class and getting it back for the last 1/4 and having a special time on Fridays if she has a good week.
Let's hope that treating her more "adultlike" will have her acting more "adultlike"!
Yesterday was the quarterly parent/teacher meetings. CMS apparently has a meeting where parents can drop in and speak with their students teachers. The 8th grade teachers were in the gym. Several lunch tables were set up for each of the core subjects and each of the teachers had a spot at the table.
Both Hubby and I were able to go yesterday and we got a chance to sit and meet face to face with the math teacher. We discussed some potential ideas with her and said that we would get back in touch with her after having a talk with MAC.
MAC has been complaining that we don't give her any chance to make decisions for herself. As a consequence we have been trying to give her chances to help determine her own path. We brought the ideas to MAC and asked her which one(s) she wanted to try. We came up with two: turning in her drawing journal and manga for 3/4 of the class and getting it back for the last 1/4 and having a special time on Fridays if she has a good week.
Let's hope that treating her more "adultlike" will have her acting more "adultlike"!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Family Weekend
After the cruise it was very difficult to get back into real life. School, and work and all those little mundane things like cooking, cleaning and doing homework. The first few days of having to wake up to the alarm was very difficult and MAC and I had several instances of disagreements over clothing and hair brushing. By the time Friday rolled around I had almost had it with her.
She had a girls group meeting on Friday evening and by the time she and Hubby returned it was past time for dinner. They brought Checkers and we all sat in bed and watched two Big Bang Theory's. It was nice to just relax a little when we were all getting along.
The rest of the weekend was a little hectic but last night we were able to sit down and watch another Big Bang Theory. The best part of watching it together was that MAC was the one who wanted to do it. She climbed between Hubby and I and snuggled under the covers, allowed me to put my arm behind her and hugged Hubby's arm.
She had a girls group meeting on Friday evening and by the time she and Hubby returned it was past time for dinner. They brought Checkers and we all sat in bed and watched two Big Bang Theory's. It was nice to just relax a little when we were all getting along.
The rest of the weekend was a little hectic but last night we were able to sit down and watch another Big Bang Theory. The best part of watching it together was that MAC was the one who wanted to do it. She climbed between Hubby and I and snuggled under the covers, allowed me to put my arm behind her and hugged Hubby's arm.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to everyone! Hopefully the holidays were wonderful and the New Year has been uneventful. We were on a cruise for the holidays. This was the first time that MAC or I were able to sit on a beach in swim wear on Christmas Day!
I was very excited to be on the ship, "Freedom of the Seas". We were able to explore and had most of the deck plans figured out by the end of the second day. Surprisingly we did not use the three pools or hot tubs until the last day of the cruise. Of course the beaches, jumping off the side of a "pirate ship" and shopping took away some of the potential pool time...
MAC was able to wander the ship by herself and had made a friend by the middle of the second full day on ship. They spent a lot of time in the kids "hot tub" and drawing anime together. It was great for her to have some freedom. In our first port of call I felt comfortable enough letting her walk back on to the ship by herself with her friend while I did a little shopping.
Seven days of being waited on and having someone else take care of us was very nice. MAC behaved well and spent her Christmas money wisely. It was a very relaxing time!
I was very excited to be on the ship, "Freedom of the Seas". We were able to explore and had most of the deck plans figured out by the end of the second day. Surprisingly we did not use the three pools or hot tubs until the last day of the cruise. Of course the beaches, jumping off the side of a "pirate ship" and shopping took away some of the potential pool time...
MAC was able to wander the ship by herself and had made a friend by the middle of the second full day on ship. They spent a lot of time in the kids "hot tub" and drawing anime together. It was great for her to have some freedom. In our first port of call I felt comfortable enough letting her walk back on to the ship by herself with her friend while I did a little shopping.
Seven days of being waited on and having someone else take care of us was very nice. MAC behaved well and spent her Christmas money wisely. It was a very relaxing time!
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