"If You Can Read This, Thank A Teacher"

It always amazes me what a difference a year can make. As long as I've been a parent, that particular passage of time has fascinated me. So many people look at the month of January for reflection and self-assessment; wondering how their lives will improve or just be different for the next 12 months.

Me? I've figured out that I apparently go through this in July.

The start of the school year always has me just a little on edge, worrying about how the boys will do as they move ahead. And as each year passes I see how different they are from each other, thereby giving me SEPARATE worries. Will Jock continue to struggle, as he has every year? Breaking my heart just a little more each time? Will this be the year that Bug can make a friend and keep him, without that friend getting fed up with not understanding how to be friends with Bug? So as we rolled into the end of July, I started looking back over the last twelve months. How did the last school year go?

As Jock and I were headed up to Back To School night last night, we were talking about the classes on his schedule, the teachers he'll have, and the sports he'll play. I actively participated in that discussion, but I'm one of those people who will revisit a conversation several times over the next few days. I'm glad I did this time, as I've reached a couple of Holy Crap! revelations.

~~ This is the first year I'm not over-concerned about Jock juggling two sports at the same time as well as his schoolwork. Last year, he proved to me and to himself that he knows how to prioritize and how to study. At the start of the year, getting him to sit down to do his homework was about as easy as teaching my dog to dance on his front paws. Theoretically, it could happen; but not likely. However, by the end of the year, he was finishing assignments on time, and projects early. AND playing baseball.

~~ He has discovered that he enjoys learning. Oh, not all things. But more than he thought he would. Last year, he found himself taking a World History class with a fairly young, fairly new-to-teaching teacher. Jock loved every stinkin' minute of that class. He gives full credit to that teacher for supporting him, believing in him, and making class fun. He maintained an A-B average all year long in that class, which is HUGE for him. This year? He got the same teacher for U.S. History. He was so amazingly excited about that, he even admitted it to the teacher! Better yet? He has the confidence in himself to believe he'll get good grades in this class this year. This teacher has no idea what he has done for my son. He made learning something Jock actually wants to do, and I will never be able to repay him.

~~ He is excited about his Geometry class, and it's all because of the teacher he has.

Those are just a couple of examples. But what made it all stick in my mind was the comment he made as we were finishing up our conversation.

"I can't wait for school to start, Mom."

I am so hopeful for this year, now. New year, new beginnings. Who says they can only happen in January?