Men are not the only

  Whether you are a custodial parent, a non-custodial parent, a first wife, a second wife, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, ask yourself if you're behaving in the best interest of the child.    

 

dh - darling husband 
bm - biomom 
ss - stepson 
sd - stepdaughter 
dd - darling daughter 
ds - darling son 

11/06/2000

Bm,

At the parents' meeting near the beginning of the school year I heard from s's counselor S**** that it's important for (ss) to be involved in extracurricular activities starting with his freshman year.  The colleges want to see involvement and commitment from day one, not beginning in his junior year, for instance. 

11/4/2000 I heard from C*** Robotics teacher, J*** "For R*** students-pass the word around, you are also required to attend classes and attendance is important to the club and selection for travel" 

11/06/2000 I heard from R*** Robotics teacher, F***,  "The real work begins when we find out about the construction of the robot in January.  These meeting are designed to get the background information on robotics."  

11/06/2000 I heard from R*** Robotics teacher P***, “Greetings Robotics Club members! Kudos to A***, A***, Q***, and E*** for attending the Saturday class and sitting through a 2 semester college physics course condensed into 1 ½ hours!!!Q*** and E*** are in Calculus but imagine what this was like for A*** and A*** who have completed Algebra and are taking Geometry.  E*** And Q***, I was impressed with your responses and knowledge. Ms. W*** would be proud. 

These Saturday classes are designed to help you understand robotics and the competition so that even if your interest is in 3D animation, you will know the robotic principles and rules of the game (rules of engagement, as they say). The Saturday classes are not mandatory but are strongly recommended. There will be a class for those who can attend at M*** C*** on Nov 11th from 11-1 in rooms 45/46. To get to these classrooms, you need to ...  Ask E***, Q***, A*** or A*** for directions. 

There will also be a class On Nov 18th here at R*** in the auto shop (next to Discovery Lab).That class is also scheduled for 11-1. Welcome to the world of B*** Robotics.”

As I let you know, we were notified that (ss) earned high honors (the best you can get) on the Golden State Exam he took in 8^th grade.“  Achievement on the GSE is noted on students’ permanent transcripts and included in applications for college, universities, and military appointments. This recognition also signals high academic achievement to future employers.”

We all went to the college fair this past Thursday.  (Ss) was looking in to MIT, Cal Tech who runs JPL, and  University New Mexico involved with Los Alamos National Laboratories. 

(Ss) is volunteering 3 hours a week at the high school’s ISP (the amount of hours recommended by his high school counselor).  That combined with his Robotics greatly help his chances to be admitted to the college of his choice.  (S’s) attendance, commitment, the chance to learn from these teachers and create relationships with teachers and students with similar interests will benefit (ss) greatly in his future.

(Ss) can find out what he missed by not attending this past Robotics class and I can help him catch up.

I need to hear from you that you will be taking (ss) to the Robotics classes.

I enclose the directions that were faxed to you Thursday night.

(dh) 

 

Wednesday night  11/08/2000

Bm calls the kids' line for ss at 7:40pm. My daughter asks ss if he's done with his homework.  He's not.  My daughter tells bm he'll call her when he's done.

Bm demands my daughter put ss on the phone immediately.  My daughter brings the phone to me.  I said, "Hello?" There was silence.  I said, "(Bm)?" She said yes.  I said, "(Ss)'s doing homework, he'll call you when he's done."  I explained that when he has computer club he starts homework 5pm, takes 1/2 hr for dinner, usually takes 2 - 3 hrs for homework,  was done at 8 last night, had only English left and should be done about 8pm again.

I thought she said the kids' line was busy after 8pm last night, so she wasn't able to get thru.  I responded with surprise, that there wasn't anyone on their line that I know of, that maybe they were ignoring the beep.  I said I'd talk to them.

She said a little impatiently, "NO, my phone was tied up." I said, "Oh, ok, well he'll call you after his homework."  I repeated it 2 more times but she wouldn't accept my boundary so I hung up.

8:15pm Ss was done with his homework. I tell him to call his mom. He wants to make his school lunch first. Then he calls her.

He returns to the family room after 1/2 hr, pale white and trembling. She was furious, adamant that she will NOT be taking him to Robotics.  He said she accused him of lying about many things. He seemed to start to tell us more, then decided not to.  I think it was about my hanging up on his mom.  Ss knows what his mom thinks of me doesn't make a difference.

Concerned Stepmom

 

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