He said he couldn’t do it, it was too hard. That I just didn’t understand how hard he was trying and he’d NEVER be able to get Honor Roll again,. Well NEVER CAME TODAY!!! My 8th grader made A/B Honor Roll. He had not made Honor Roll since he was in the 5th grade. The last year of elementary I knew was hard. He had a lot on him to pass the Florida test. I pushed him to get Honor Roll in the 6th Grade but first year in Middle School could be unnerving so I backed off. Really it dawned on me those were just excuses that I was accepting and he was happy I was doing so. His 7th Grade year I became very determined that he was going to get Honor Roll before he goes into High School. He cried said I was pushing him too hard and expecting more than he could actually deliver. I didn’t give in. I told him I’ve worked with you. I myself have put a lot of hours into your education these 8 years. I know what you can do. I also know you’re used to things coming easy to you and now you’re being challenged and you don’t want to push yourself and step up to the challenge. All these schools sending letters because of what’s between your ears. They know you’re smart, but I know you’re even smarter academically than you’ve shown these last few years. I told him you have just enough to be content but really you have nothing and I was going to take that nothing (his game and games and going to his best friend house) from him if he did not make Honor Roll this year. Guess what, HE MADE HONOR ROLL. Young people give what you will accept. I told him no Honor Roll this year no spending the weekends or days during the summer at your best friend’s you’ll be home studying and preparing for High School. He gave me his report card with a big ear to ear smile on his face. I told him I feel like rewarding you but you did what you were supposed to do. I let him know how proud and excited I was. Even did a Happy Dance. I was more excited than Dora ever was singing WE DID IT, YAY!!!  What was his first response. May I get a game and go to—-. Him and his old classmate play games online via the Wii. They talk about games when they are on the phone and anytime either one of them get a new game they must try out the new game together. Odds are I was more than likely selling a wolf ticket, either way it worked. Overall he’s a good young man. I know he applies himself but I see where he delivers what he knows his teachers will accept and what he believe I will accept. 5th and 6th grade he had A’, B’s and one C. 7th grade, last year he got 3 C’s on his progress report I told him no games until the report card came out and those C’s better be gone. What did he do, he went back to the one C I had been accepting. This year I told him no more. Hard work pays off, and my hair is still Black. I just knew for sure he was going to cause me to age. I am truly a proud Mom. I say We did it, yes he did it more or less, but without my encouraging/pushing him to do his best and stop saying what he can’t do, he’d still have those C’s or worse and would not have the opportunity to graduate from college a month before he graduates from high school. I was really contemplating giving up b/c he was on my last nerve with all the whining and complaining, you the only one who say it’s not enough my teachers say I’m doing good. I do better than most kids in my class, ok, congratulations. Teachers are paid, whether you pass or fail. I don’t get paid for the hours I put in to just you alone and your school work. I didn’t even get a Thank You Ma, until he got the letter from the school he wanted to attend. Then I got some Thank You Ma’s. Then he was all excited, walking around the house smiling off the memory of the letter and knowing he had gotten his wish with a bonus. It took some work, but I told him this is just the beginning, next year I’m going to be even harder. I have the summer to get my energy and motivation back. This boy has exhausted me, Lol but I’d do it all over again to make sure he does it all over again. I’m still Smiling 🙂