STAR Testing

Jack still does not like school.  As a matter of fact, it's gotten much worse in the weeks since I posted about it the first time.  I've been riding the fence about what to do.  I figure my options are as follows:

1.  Homeschool him.

2.  Punish him.

3.  Do nothing.

Let it be clear as a bell that the first option is my absolute LAST option.  I get the chills and break out in a cold sweat every time I consider the option.  I have nightmarish flashbacks to pre-K and push the thought out of my mind as quickly as humanly possible.

The second option pops into my head every single morning when I drop him off.   Just about the time Justice gets out of the car Jack starts complaining about feeling sick.  Then he's dizzy, then he's going to throw up, then he starts to cry.  Today, there was a sheriff outside the school doing a quickie car-seat check as the parents dropped off their children.  That's a HUGE issue up in Covington, so it wasn't a surprise nor a big deal.  Jack wouldn't get out of the car again, just like every other morning.  The teacher tried dragging him out, then the sheriff came over and tried to get him out.  The sheriff had to physically remove Jack from the car to get him to go to school.  This is about the time that option 2 sounds like the best one.  I mean I really wanted to beat Jack this morning when I dropped him off.  But once I cool off, then option 1 sneaks back in my head for just a moment before I kick it out of my head again.  

And then, option 3 starts to sound like the best option, because Jack is doing AWESOME in school.  I have no idea how or why somebody who hates school as much as he does is excelling, but he's figured out a way.  

And, just to be clear, there is absolutely NO reason for him to hate school.  There are no bullies, there are no issues with other students.  It's just Jack's charming personality having a conflict with school in general.

"It's too long."

"I don't like any of the other kids"

"The other kids BUG me"

"People fool around too much."

"I don't want the other kids to get me in trouble."

"We sit too close together at lunch, I don't like people watching me eat."

Those are the biggest reasons he complains about school.   He's not much of a people person, that's pretty clear based on the list above.  Plus, he's the oldest kid in the class.  His tolerance for the younger and more talkative kids is pretty much set at a negative factor.  

So maybe he will like school better when there is less playing and more school?  

I doubt it, but that's what I'm holding on to for now.  

Anyway, the reason for this post is because today while I was mulling my three options for the hundredth time this school year, I got a text from Miss Cindy.

We both get a chuckle out of thinking that Jack was sped when he first came to school.  I was honestly really concerned, I know you all remember that.  She was ready for it, we both waited, and boom.  Hi there smart kid, where the heck did you come from???

Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy that he is doing so well.  It's just so hard when he hates school so much.  Or maybe he doesn't.

Maybe he just likes to play on my emotions.  

Or maybe not, and he's just a charmer like his Dad. (If sarcasm had a font, that last sentence would be in it.  Just saying.  LOL)

Either way, I'll continue to take it day by day in hopes that things will get better.  I will continue to be  very thankful that he's found a way to still succeed in spite of his lackluster excitement about school.

You're killing me, Jack.  You can stop anytime now and that'd be GREAT.  LOL.