Three days into the school year. I have already suffered through a multitude of temper tantrums, pouting, slammed doors, and more ‘you’re not my family, I hate yous’ and tons more negative comments than I can count. My husband and I suffered through forty minutes to do one connect the dots, counting by two through eighteen. Something he sits and does easily in the car when no one is paying attention. Give him a pencil, paper, and fun little dog to draw and the tears start flowing. Ahh, The life of my six year old drama queen…ahem, king. Needless to say, we never made it to the fifteen minutes of reading we were supposed to do.
So when did this start? Way back in kindergarten. We never were really sure why. He was fine until the long two weeks of Christmas break. Well, actually the almost three weeks, after the polar vortex. Then the half of January and February that they also couldn’t go because of that same vortex and the poor busing in our district that makes most of the kids walk up to two miles to school. Suddenly, I have a kid who hates school. Screaming crying fits about going. I visited his class. Talked with his teacher, who was astounded by the way there was any problem. Apparently my devil at home is an angel at school, figures.
Now, normally I would send him to summer school, something offered to all schools to keep up their brain skills, but seeing how miserable he had been I let him stay home for the summer. But was that a mistake? I don’t know. He is back to , and even worse than, he was last year. Every morning is worse than the last. Even saying the word school, or homework, sends him into a tizy. We cannot get anything out of him that is wrong there though, No bullying, that we can see or have heard of from school. What kid hates school this young? I have been there last year. He seemed liked. No super hyper like at home, actually spacey, but he can be like that, sorry to say, kinda your typical blonde. Extremely creative, can weave anything into a story. Anything.. and make it believable. But hate school. Such a strong word. And hates everything about it. We try to be patient with him. But let’s face it, that only goes so far before you become frustrated.
We have offered to put him in whatever after school activity he likes. He tried football over the summer. So not him. I can’t believe he even picked it. I think he only did cause of his father’s love for it. He never showed an interest before. And it showed. He kinda just stood on the field looking lost. Needless to say, that will be his only season. He wanted to quit after the first couple games. Glad they only had eight. Karate was a joke. Made the mistake of paying for a year of that upfront. Won’t make that mistake again with this kiddo. We have offered him everything from music, art, dance to baseball and basketball. Whatever, just pick something that he would enjoy. Nothing. Ugh. How to inspire a six year old?
I have seen him interested in comic con, and the costumes. But still a little young for that, can’t enter that stuff until you are eighteen. The costumes are expensive to make. I have encouraged him in the direction of art if he wants to do that. I draw, he needs some sort of back ground in that if he wants to do fantasy stuff. He is also a walking encyclopedia for Star Wars. But what can he do with that? Loves super heroes. Marvel comics. Again, not sure what to do in that area. Did tell him he has to learn to read so that he can read those comics and books. He still blows me off. I thought at least that would inspire him to learn.
So, how to inspire the uninspired first grader? I don’t know. I’m not asking him to love every aspect of school. All I want is one thing. Art, math, recess even. Anything. How to make the pessimistic glass half empty kid to a kid that at least thinks in terms ‘hey, that glass is has something in it’. One that can come home and take a two minute homework assignment and do it without making it a forty minutes ordeal for the entire family, even his sister escaped to her room and fell asleep waiting for someone to play with her. Like any parent, I just wish happiness for my child, and not the misery I see now.