Dylan is Completely Caught Up.
Spring break is ending. So this is it: the end of the third quarter.
Those of you who have been painstakingly reading my blog just because, at this point, you can’t seem to quit, will recognize that this is the MILLIONTH end of a quarter that we’ve stumbled toward in the Hawkins household.
But THIS one is different.
I hate to totally ignore Shane, because he has consistently gotten all A’s and B’s, and I should absolutely recognize him for that incredible work. He gives it all he’s got, follows the rules, and pulls himself up when he needs to do so. Best of all, he knows what’s due, and when, and he gets it done – and in.
Way to go, Shane!
But Dylan’s ADHD (and his attitude) have kept him in Total Struggle Mode for the past 11 years. So the end of every quarter usually comes with complete panic, Dylan staying after school for hours desperately trying to catch up, and screaming anxiety at every turn for at least two weeks.
Just … not this time. There are only five days left in the quarter, and Dylan is completely caught up.
He’s caught up because he’s been caught up all quarter long.
He’s been following his contract, and hasn’t lost his electronics even once. (I did threaten him once or twice, but he always already had a note from his teacher, saying that the missing assignment was turned in.)
Dylan has finished quizzes late, since he gets “time and a half” according to his IEP. And he has been doing his homework assignments in a rather haphazard fashion sometimes. And his long-term projects have probably suffered from procrastination. His grades might suffer because he’s not prioritizing school.
But all quarter long, he has kept on top of his assignments, and turned them in – without MY help.
I breathed a little easier this quarter. As panicked as I was a few times, Dylan knew everything before I did. He got the work done. He turned it in.
It really was that simple.
And now, with the end of the quarter coming in just a handful of days, he’s planning to go on a field trip on Friday. He’s meeting with teachers during his spare time. And he’s making sure – every day – that he won’t end this quarter with missing work or incomplete assessments.
In fact, Dylan is going to end this quarter without any problem.
So as the next quarter starts, I can actually breathe.