I really need a more expressive icon for times like these

[mickeym]

I didn't even get a chance to clear the threshhold of my door before Matthew announced he has two (not just one, but TWO!) book reports due... TOMORROW.

Book reports he's known about for NINE FUCKING WEEKS.

And can I please do them for him, because I type better and faster than him. I said I'd be happy to type up whatever he dictates, but he owes me something big for this, because he's known for NINE FUCKING WEEKS. *dies*

So now, I'm sitting here checking my email and I said (casually), "by the way, you DO have an outline/guideline sheet to follow for this, right?" And he got this... look...on his face, and now he's digging through his bookbag in what is NOT a reassuring manner, muttering "maybe it's down here at the bottom".

I suspect he's going to be one unhappy boy...

Yep. I'm right. He can't find it.

ETA: And he just keeps making it better and better. He doesn't even have all the reading done. He then told me he has "one done, but I couldn't type fast enough", and got all tongue-tied when I asked "why did you tell me I needed to type two for you?" He finally admitted that no, he doesn't actually have any done. Or all the reading. So I suggested to him that he go upstairs and pick out some books from his bookshelf, and he said "so you're saying I should just plan to do four?" (If he doesn't turn in two tomorrow, he then has to turn in four, to make up for it.) I said yes, exactly, and I would help him with the reading.

He said "I'm not doing it. I don't care if I get an F, I'm not doing it." So I told him he was to go up to his room and stay there until he catches a clue -- without turning on his TV, or his radio, or any gaming systems.

I'm not going to do the goddamn book reports for him. I will help him with his reading/comprehension, because he has a lot of trouble with those. I will type the reports up for him -- but he has to work on the reading and he definitely has to have an idea in mind with the reports. Typing them and doing them are two different things, and I'm not doing his damn homework for him. Not when he's had two months to do it.

And upon further consideration, I think this icon I'm using sums things up nicely, actually.

Comments

[fleshflutter.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. Is he praying to a higher power yet? *hugs*

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

No, and in fact, he just managed to thoroughly and completely piss me off by telling me "I'm not doing it". See, he said that if he doesn't turn the two in tomorrow (and he's not even finished all the reading for the two!) then he'll have to do four. So I said he should go up to his bookcase and pick out four books, and we'll start reading now--I will HELP him with that part of it, even. And the little shit sat there on the couch and stared at me and said "I'm not doing it. I don't care if I have to take an F for the class, I'm not doing it."

So I sent him to his room (more so I don't KILL HIM RIGHT NOW OMG) and told him to stay there until he comes to his senses... no TV, he can't turn his radio on, nothing.

It would really suck if he had to make up a class for summer school, wouldn't it?

I have absolutely zero sympathy wrt this. He's known for NINE FUCKING WEEKS, dammit, and he sat there just now and *lied to my face* about having one done, and hedged about the reading until I called him on it, and ARGH. *headdesk ad infinitum*

[rainbow.livejournal.com]

I think in your place I'd be a lot more likely to tell him "School work is your job, you need to do it" -- because really...he's old enough to plan ahead and ask for helping typing sooner if he needed it.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's gotten more complicated even in the two minutes since I posted this -- and honestly, I don't mind typing for him, it was more irritation that he waited until the last minute. I scribe for him when I help him with his homework, and he has scribing help at school, that's in his IEP. Time and activity management are also things he gets help with, on his IEP... unfortunately while he *should* be old enough to plan ahead, it's not quite that simple.

But yes, there is no excuse for waiting this long; particularly since he was out sick last Thursday and Friday and had plenty of time then to finish up the reading (which he's also not done with), and to make sure he had the guideline sheet, because if he didn't, I could have had his teacher email it or fax it to me. Too late now.

He's up in his room, because he's copped an attitude about it all. From what he says if he doesn't turn the two in tomorrow, he'll have to do four, so I said he should go up to his room and pick out four books from his bookcase so we could get started, that I would help him with the reading. And his response was "I'm not going to do it, I don't care if I get an F." So now he's up there, no TV, no radio, no computer, no games, nothing, and there he'll stay until he gets over his pissy little fit.

[rainbow.livejournal.com]

*nod* I know it's not that simple because he needs the planning help.

I mean that if a) he doesn't tell you what he needs to plan and then b) expects you to rescue him at the 11th hour after he's lost the instructions, there's not much you can do except let him learn that that combo of a and b just don't work.

*lots of supportive snugglehugs to see you thru his pissy fit* and *love*

[deathbymutation.livejournal.com]

Even if he doesn't have the outline he can still use a general book report outline.

General book reports?
-Summarize the book
-What is your opinion on it?
-What message do you think the author was trying to say?
-Do you think the title suits the book?
-Would you recommend this to someone? If yes, what age group and why.
etc etc

If the books are under 500 pages each, he can easily have them done by 1am and still get a passing 60%.

Believe me, I was doing book reports on Stephen King in elementary school.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Okay, the general book report outline you gave is very helpful, thank you. (It's been 28 years since I was in the 8th grade, so, I have no clue, seriously.)

As far as the length of the book and him reading them... he's in the eighth grade, but he reads at about a 5th grade level. On a good day. But okay, this gives us a direction. And he's come downstairs now, with less attitude and more "ready to do this", so that's a step in the right direction. :)

[deathbymutation.livejournal.com]

this is a pretty generic book report outline

>> http://wombat.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/~obryson/BookReport.html
>> http://www.schoolfamily.com/print-and-use-tools/document/642-book-report-outline

Occasionally there's the required "create a newspaper article about the events" or make a brochure for the setting in the book. Etc etc.

Always a good idea to have one of those ready and if he can get to class a minute or two early, maybe he can ask a classmate.

Or maybe he's got a classmate he can call that would have the outline? Not sure about his school but some of the ones I went to, the teachers' phone numbers were given to the parents so they could call them if something like this happened.

[thehighwaywoman.livejournal.com]

*passes you a very strong drink* As for icons, I like this one. Sympathies, hon.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I think I'm going to need it. O_O

[zortified.livejournal.com]

I never had attitude like this when *I* was a teenager.

0:-)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I see he's come back down, so good luck with getting things done.

[brighton-girl.livejournal.com]

You are a good mom. For reals.

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

erg. um, the best I can offer is that at least they're not "crafty" book reports (yes, even in 8th grade.) Because wouldn't *that* be special?

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

DUDE (ette) - we have those NOW and mine is in fourth. He has to have a display (art work, cookies, something) and the written report. ACK

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, this sounds so familiar. *hugs*

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

sounds like he's come around to the idea of getting his head down - good luck!

[als-wonderland.livejournal.com]

*passes you a drink* My sympathies, good luck and much patience.

[geeklite.livejournal.com]

Go you!

My mother would have probably shot me had I pulled anything like that on her ;)

[nopseud]

You deserve a sainthood.

(Although I guess it would be better not to have to go though the Martyrdom By Teenager first. Being eaten by lions would be quicker, at least, and maybe less painful :-)

[pensnest]

Argh. He's probably kinda scared and therefore defensive because he knows how much he's messed up... not that that helps. Good luck.

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

This is why I don't have kids. Because I wouldn't be able to resist the urge to kill him right now OMG.

Nine weeks! D:

[cormallen.livejournal.com]

You've already got some book report template links, so I'm not gonna point you at those. But... damn, honey, I hope he seriously reconsiders that 'F'. Summer school is not even remotely fun (I'm assuming that's the general policy for failing something in your school district). Good luck, and major, major *hugs*

[fpvs.livejournal.com]

Maybe you could even give him a good touch-typing program for his next birthday as well. Learning touch-typing was the first skill I used a computer to learn, and I'm thankful for it every day.