Brilliant … But Bouncy

Don’t Worry, Mom.

In one week, and with some assignments so late that they were still not graded, Dylan pulled up his GPA to 2.1. He has now turned in everything (and I have confirmation from his case manager and teachers about it) but since some of it is not graded, I am still anxious.

VERY anxious.

Because in three days, he was missing five more assignments. He didn’t finish an algebra test and his English quiz still hadn’t been graded. His grade went from that luxurious 2.1 down to a 1.7 again.

Meanwhile, he signed up to work 17 days at Field of Screams. We scheduled another voice lesson for him. And he became president of the Ultimate Frisbee club, which starts practice next week.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Dylan said. “I’ve got this. You don’t have to worry about it anymore.”

I tried to relax. “Okay,” I said, my voice cracking slightly. “You’ve got this. I will shut up.”

Less than 24 hours later, I was texting him a list of his missing assignments. I’d emailed his case manager and started to write to his teachers – but decided to write this blog instead.

I will wait. Dylan does not have to turn in his papers. He will survive. He can fail tenth grade and his will still survive.

He just won’t work at Field of Screams. He won’t be allowed to play Ultimate Frisbee, let alone be president. And he won’t take any more voice lessons.

This is not the end of the world. It will be hard for him to accept, and it will be miserable living with him complaining all the time about how he’s got everything under control, even though he has nothing under control.

But yesterday, he sat on the couch for an hour – as per our contract – and worked on his AP Computer Science assignment. He got a 100% today, when he turned it in ON TIME.

So I haven’t given up hope. I will not ever give up hope.

I just have to accept whatever happens – whatever happens – and stick to the contracted consequences.

Even if it’s horrifically painful and sometimes makes it hard to breathe.