May 08, 2008

He's daft.

Boopie has made me want to quote Sheriff Buford T. Justice, "There's no way, *no* way that you came from *my* loins. Soon as I get home, first thing I'm gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth!"

Okay, as I told you all two days ago, he turned fifteen and we gave him an I-Pod Nano. That night I told him no less than four times that he is NOT to bring it to school. We've been having problems with his grades and behavior in school. The last thing he needed was this distraction.

Yesterday on lunch I had to run home because I forgot my wallet. Since I was home I thought I'd check to see if he actually listened. I looked in his room and couldn't find the I-pod. It wasn't on the docking station, it wasn't on his desk, shelf or dresser. In the morning before I left for work it was on the docking station. I was annoyed, but I figured it was a new toy and he wanted to show his friends. So I decided that I was going to let him off with a warning.

Ktreva had to have a tooth pulled yesterday so she went home from work early. I had just gotten out of a meeting when she calls me and tells me that we got a letter from school that Boopie is FAILING 5 classes, including Gym. Now, if you recall, we have been having trouble with him all year. We have arranged tutoring for him, we have checked his homework, we have called the school. Hell, I sold all of his video games. Now I have him doing all kinds of menial labor around the house. You know like cutting up branches into exactly 12 inch lengths and stacking them neatly, digging holes and filling them back in, etc.

When I got home I asked Boopie were his I-pod was. Of course he told me it was on the docking station. I ask, "Did you take it to school?" and he starts to lie saying no, that it was on the docking station all day. I called him out on it. Needless to say I've confiscated the I-pod. He got to enjoy it for less then 12 hours. When I asked him why he took it to school he said he wanted to listen to it. I gave him the third degree regarding hearing me tell him not to take it to school, and he confirmed he did. He just couldn't tell me why he would do it. (Because he thought he wouldn't get caught.)

Then we talked about his grades. People I don't know what to do. The school won't hold him back. We spoke with them about it. The only option we have is to send him to another school next year. One designed for troubled kids.

I hate to say this, but I'm about to just turn him over to his father. We can't do anything about this if his father undermines and undoes all the work we've done. Both Ktreva and I are at our wits end about the boy.

Posted by Contagion in Family Life at May 8, 2008 05:42 PM | TrackBack
Comments

boot camp? I don't know what to tell you. What does he have to say for himself?

Posted by: caltechgirl at May 8, 2008 11:47 PM

Out of curiosity have you tried sitting him down and thoroughly explaining how much his life, which has only just begun, is going to severely suck if he doesn't graduate? And I mean life overall, not just life at home under mom & dad?

Posted by: Shadoglare at May 9, 2008 05:23 AM

We are seriously thinking of boot camp.

We've had the "you can't live off of minimum wage" talks with him. Unfortunately he has this sense of entitlement that the world owes him. I'm sure he gets it from his Bio father. I mean the guy is 40 and living at home with his grandmother because he can't make ends meet. That's the part that is frustrating.

Posted by: Contagion at May 9, 2008 06:20 AM

At home we used to have a Program in Jr High called "Scared Straight"

In which we were taken to the local penal institution and left in a room with numerous convicts and other ne'er-do-wells with naught but a single Prison Guard.

What fun!

Have you thought of a similar treatment, however utilizing your local County Jail? You would be surprised how many Sherriff's Office's would be more than happy to help parents who want their children to line up.

"See, boy, this is where you get to go when you don't do what your supposed too.."

Posted by: BloodSpite at May 9, 2008 07:13 AM

Heading straight into a lifetime of working in a meat packing plant or if he's really lucky emptying trash cans in an office building, while living in a run down trailer park and maybe getting married to a junkie wife who can't stop having kids.
I'm seeing a very ugly future in store for boopie if he doesn't straighten up :/

Posted by: Shadoglare at May 9, 2008 08:28 AM

Heading straight into a lifetime of working in a meat packing plant or if he's really lucky emptying trash cans in an office building, while living in a run down trailer park and maybe getting married to a junkie wife who can't stop having kids.

Geez dude, remind me to come straight to you when I need moral uplifting :)

Posted by: BloodSpite at May 9, 2008 08:47 AM

hmmmm, I hate to be the pessimist of the bunch, but are you sure he's not using drugs? Sounds very familiar to what I went through in HS experimenting with things like that.....

Posted by: Carmen at May 9, 2008 09:09 AM

Carmen, he might be dabbling in drugs. It wouldn't surprise me while he is at his dad's. While he is at our house he doesn't have much time to and he isn't showing any of the other tells. But it might be a good idea to get one of those home drug kits.

Posted by: Contagion at May 9, 2008 10:35 AM

those home kits are worthless, seriously. Take him to the doctor and spend the $$ on a REAL test.

Posted by: caltechgirl at May 9, 2008 01:11 PM

What Bloodsprite said about the convicts.

You have tried, he will not listen to anything you say. No matter what you say about going no where in life it sounds like he needs to hear it from a stranger who has been there, done that.

Someone that will take him downtown and show him the drug addicts, the homeless, and talk to the street cleaners.

His father has some kind of a wierd hold on him and Boopie isn't going to go staight until his father releases that hold or you find out what power his father has over him.

Do you think his father has threatened him into not telling you stuff (will harm you or Ktreva or clone) or doesn't do what his father tells him to do.

Posted by: Quality Weenie at May 9, 2008 04:45 PM

Damn, I don't know what to suggest.
The boot camp thing sounds good. Scared Straight might work, but the kids that are positively affected by it have to have *some* subconscious sense of right and wrong already, even if they don't show it.
Military school?
The boy does need a SERIOUS wake up call.

QW had a great idea. It'd be worth a shot

Posted by: Wes at May 9, 2008 06:56 PM

Are there still high school ROTC programs?

Posted by: Shadoglare at May 9, 2008 07:59 PM

Learning disadblity? Try having Doc give prozac..
Worked for my youngest.

Posted by: Jim at May 10, 2008 03:46 PM