Thursday, July 23, 2009

Man-Child's Summer

Needless to say, it has been a long summer. Since Man-child had to complete work he failed to do during the school year, I cancelled all activity for the summer. Even though it has not been very humid, it has been hot in this house. As a matter of fact, for the first two weeks, he would not speak to me.

When the summer enrichment program began, he hit the ceiling. Then all H*ll broke when he found out he had to read "The Secret Life of Bees". WT* Man-child was near tears. "Why I gotta read this girl book", he yelled. I told him " suck it up and read. And there is no such thing as a girl book". The temperature got even HOTTER.

I watched him read. He threw the book. He tried to hide it but I bought two extra copies. He even tore a few pages out of one book. After three weeks, he finished it and then he had to write a character analysis. I thought "OMG, this is going to be a disaster". Once again, he surprised me. Man-child's paper talked about how he could relate to Rosaleen, the character played by Jennifer Hudson. He stated that she was very smart and knowledgeable. Everyone thought she was slow and not aware of what was going on. He said that she was very smart. She just had a different way of doing things. Man-child said that he felt like her because everyone assumes that he is smart and on target when he is simply trying to figure things out the way that he wants to do it. He talked about how people always look at people and think they know all about you instead of getting to know you and letting you figure things out on your own. I WAS SPEECHLESS. He teacher was very impressed.

I returned his laptop and video games until the High School Summer Program starts on August 3. He kissed me and yelled as if it were Christmas. Then he did something that really shocked me. He said "Mommy, where are all those Harry Potter books?" I pulled the books from the shelf and gave them to him. Tonight, when I thought he was lost in Runescape on the computer or somewhere trying his hand at anime art, he was reading the first Harry Potter book.

Boy... I still have a lot to learn.

14 comments:

  1. When you're shocked that he is asking for the very things you have been trying to get him to grasp, that's when you know you've been doing the right thing all along. Great assessment to Man-Child on Rosaleen. Great parenting to you 'Cilla. You can slowly let out that breath you've been holding all this time.

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  2. Thank you again today 'Cilla. I enjoy reading your Man-Child blog. All of these experiences should be put i n a book. Can't wait to see what he soes next. You are a great mom!
    Patsy

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  3. Enjoy your successes as you get them=:) They'll help you get through the challenges ahead.

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  4. JC... I still could not believe his assessment of Rosaleen. I am holding my breath still.. :-)

    Patsy...Thanks for the encouragement. As we get ready for High School, I am going to need a lot of it along with y'all Support. :-)

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  5. Oh yes - you need to put all of these wonderful stories in a book - other parents and children wuld benefit from your thoughts.
    I just love how you had a ready response to Man-Child everytime he thought he found a way to not finish the book.

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  6. Hey Cilla,

    Man-Child is going to be alright :)That's so wonderful he was able to identify with the character in the book. I know that made you so proud.

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  7. That is one of the best man-child stories I've read so far; you did such a great job conveying both your feelings!

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  8. Wonderful and insightful as always. I take all of this in as I prepare to battle with my 11year old son.

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  9. Exhale Cilla, you got it right. It's not easy to parent, especially single-parenting a boy. But be firm and as I've told you so many times, in the long run it will pay off. And he's reading my favorite book series! Love you Man-child. Now there are some character and plot/sub-plot analyses for him.

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  10. Three cheers for Man-Child! What wonderful progress, 'Cilla. Congratulations!

    Hugs!

    Patricia

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  11. I echo Jennifer and Niambi. This was great and you do need to eventually make this into a book. You are doing such a great job of raising him; it is also a learning process for both of you. This job does not come with an instruction manual. Keep up the good work.

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  12. Good for man child. Great blog as always.

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