Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Happiness Project: More than the picture

This progress report arrived in the email last Friday:
 73.6%!?  This boy of ours who has earned all A's this year was going to close the school year with a C.  It's not that he has done poorly on assignments, but that there are assignments that are missing (which may well be due to his increasing extracurricular pursuits named Rianna, Julia, Rachel, and so on.).   So we were disappointed in the grade drop.  But knowing  that one non-A in 6th grade is not the end of happiness, we put it aside.
Our boy assured us that his socializing had shown more self-discipline and that he couldn't imagine how he had missing assignments.We smiled benignly and didn't believe a word he said.

Then, on Friday long after school was dismissed, the phone rang and "Middle School" came up in the caller id.   Knowing that nothing good ever comes from a school call, I answered with my best practiced weary voice.
And here FINALLY is the end of the story: the teacher explained that those missing assignments weren't missing anymore and that his course grade was actually an A.  While that was good news, how does this really qualify for the happiness project?  That teacher, tired at the end of her work week, surely didn't have to stay late to reconfigure his grade and she surely didn't have to call me...but she did. I just wish I had a picture of that call and that teacher to post here.
For more happiness, go here


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20 comments:

Teddy Started It said...

Well congrats on the reversal of the error. And congrats on not losing your cool with a teacher who fell down on the job for a minute (I don't know how anyone does that job!) And most of all, congrats on not lapsing into lectures and chastisements for your son. He'll remember that when he's a parent.

Anonymous said...

That's a thoughtful teacher. And hurray for yet another A.

Evansmom said...

Congrats to both of you! Him for the A and you for not freaking out!

Jane said...

Happiness shows it self in lots of ways ;). How proud you must be of your sweet and smart boy. Wish you lost of happiness.

Julie said...

This is one thing I can't wait for, no more report cards. No more school calls, no more midterms. Even though Mike was on the B honor roll more then off of it, it's still did and done with. Now on the reverse side......no more school, no more school clothes, no more teacher conferences, no more little boy. Hummm....it's hard no matter what. I'm going to miss school, school work, homework and remembering to remind him something. But it's onward and upwards to the next thing, college. WOW, how time flies.
I am so proud of your little boy (not so little, really) and I'm also proud of that teacher. Someone that cares, so wonderful.
Take care and have a blessed day.

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

That is a good teacher.

Anjie said...

Wow! That is actually a pretty good teacher, and it totally counts as "Happiness" for the project. Congrats on having a kid that despite "extracurricular pursuits" *ahem* can and will still make up his school work.

Unknown said...

That is happy awesomeness right there! Hooray for the A!

MommyLovesStilettos said...

What a fabulous teacher!!

Unknown said...

What a great teacher to go above and beyond. Have a Happy day!

Busy Bee Suz said...

What an amazing teacher!!!!
This would make me happy as well.

So, your kids are very social? I would never have guessed. :0

Sara said...

Yay!! Congrats for being patient with this.... and for it all working out in the end!!

One Photo said...

What a wonderful teacher and how great that your son has done so well. I guess now school is over and his school work is done he will be focusing fully on his summer project, aka the previous extracurricular activities :-)

Tina said...

What a great teacher and a very smart son. x

Betty W said...

I´m so glad she called. THAT is what I call devotion to your job. I believe you when you say it made you happy!

Unknown said...

great! Also amazing (and a little amusing) that your son didn't argue much about the grade...

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

What a great story with a wonderful surprise ending.

Do you know what impresses me the most? That you and your husband didn't overreact, that you put things in perspective and kept your cool. It's equally impressive that your son accepted the news and seemed to move on as well.

Really, that speaks to your whole family's emotional maturity or whatever the technical term is called. What I call it is patience, kindness, love and understanding. And it gets you far in life.

claudia said...

I think the whole thing is just wonderful. Your son and his extracurricular activities...and his A's, you and your husband for being kind, loving and understanding parents, and the teacher, who follows up when it was her oversight.
That's all Happiness with a capital H.

Jientje said...

Congatulations, that's just WONDERFUL!!

Lawyer Mom said...

Now that's a phone call I'd like to get!