Just took a peek at Jake, who I found reading in bed. I pulled his blinds down, then took his glasses and book. Look, I told him, you can read later but I want you to rest. Plus, you're going to have to come with me to pick up the car. I am? he asked. Yup! I don't want you at home by yourself.... I felt his forehead, now perfectly unremarkable to the touch.
I had sent him to bed right after school, yesterday. He complained of being tired, dizzy, and hot, which he was. This morning Jake still felt sick, apparently, though he seemed fine to me. I think I could have sent him to school but was on the fence. He didn't do any of his homework, last night. Didn't review for the second half of his science test, today, didn't start studying for a SS test on Thursday, just announced, or do any of the pages of math in prep for his Math test on Friday, also just announced. Let's not forget his research paper on Albert Einstein, due Thursday, a power point presentation on Nebraska, also Thursday, and a one-paged essay... also due on Thursday, come to think of it! The second marking period ends this Friday, hence the crunch.
Does this sound like a lot for a 1o year old in 5th grade? Sounds like a lot to me. I didn't have this kind of workload in 5th grade and it's no wonder school is stressful. He doesn't know it himself and wouldn't know to tell me, but I can just tell that school stresses him out. It's hard to manage this confusing mess of short and long-term assignments and I think this is the real reason why he feels 'sick' today.
So at 7:3o this morning, Jake and I agreed that even though he still felt 'sick', he'd get all of his work done from home today. I emailed the teachers to tell them Jake would be absent. This cannot become a regularly occurring habit, but a mental health day might be just the thing and what his mother ordered. Today, at least!
PS - my leg is much better today.
Yours Truly in Atomic Ranch Magazine
15 hours ago
I am afraid that I refuse to do some of the work set at this age. If it comes down to it being set then and that way because it suits the teachers and thier deadlines then I absolutely totaly and utterly refuse to go along with it. My children deserve their child hoods. As far as I am concerned, after school is our time. I am prepared for them to do less than 1 hour of prep, beyond that, they are my responsibility and I am not prepared to work them into the ground for a sytem that is not about thier education bit about the teacher's scores. I just don't play that game.
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