Anonymous wrote:Thank you both!! I tear up every time I think about it. His step parents were so checked out. DS said his friend would come to school with nothing but a bell pepper for lunch. Not even a knife to cut it up with. The teachers kept sending him outside the classroom, so he missed a lot academically.

He’s really blossomed in the past few months. I’m hoping things are better at home for him these days. And my son has learned a lot from him - he wants to be a math teacher now!

Awww, teary eyed over here. This makes my day, OP.

Anonymous wrote:Kind and respectful boys.
In my opinion, nothing else matters as much.

Yeah most of the boys that are kind and respectful to adults are the absolute brutal and meanest to peers, esp girls. Seen it first hand as a teen and now as a teacher at a DC private high school.

My teens just astound me every day by being such great people; hard working, caring, and smart.

Both my teen DDs (13 and 16) manage all their own schoolwork and assignments, never miss deadlines and routinely get good grades. I don't have to nag them to do their homework or study for tests. Occasionally they will ask for help, but they are the ones managing the work.

Now, on the downside, both seem to struggle with keeping a consistent group of nice friends. Both have a nice friend or two, but the sands seem to be constantly shifting and both would appreciate more social invites outside of school. It makes me sad for them.

Thank you both!! I tear up every time I think about it. His step parents were so checked out. DS said his friend would come to school with nothing but a bell pepper for lunch. Not even a knife to cut it up with. The teachers kept sending him outside the classroom, so he missed a lot academically.

He’s really blossomed in the past few months. I’m hoping things are better at home for him these days. And my son has learned a lot from him - he wants to be a math teacher now!

Wow! +1! That is true kindness and that other boy’s life is likely changed for the better. What a great story.

Anonymous wrote:Whoops, I pressed reply too soon! Anyway, the other boy pulled his math grades up, and then decided he was smart, so he started focusing in other classes too. Last week he won the Most Improved Student award. My DS was so proud of him! And I’m proud of DS for taking him under his wing and believing in him when nobody else did.

This is amazing. I am so impressed by your son and his friend!!!

Whoops, I pressed reply too soon! Anyway, the other boy pulled his math grades up, and then decided he was smart, so he started focusing in other classes too. Last week he won the Most Improved Student award. My DS was so proud of him! And I’m proud of DS for taking him under his wing and believing in him when nobody else did.

There’s a boy who’s been in DS’s class since 3rd grade. Very disruptive kid, unfocused, acts out all the time, poor student. Understandable, given his family situation. When he was 8 his mom died. His dad remarried. Then his dad died. His stepmom remarried, and she and his stepdad pretty much ignore him.

They’re both in sixth grade now. A few months ago DS started tutoring him in math. His grades went from D’s to B+.

Made All-State band. Straight A student (this is a secret from my family, who when I was growing up acted like grades were the only thing that mattered and managed to taint every achievement with judgment). Still will snuggle with me in front of the TV. Worries about his friends. Endlessly scrolls cute animals on the Internet.

I did nothing to deserve a kid this awesome.

College freshman DD just got a great summer internship. She has ADHD and has struggled a bit with adjusting to college but she's really persistent and focused on her career goals and was determined to find a career-related summer job even though I told her it was totally fine to get a part time retail or camp counselor job this summer. I'm really happy for her.

Good student with really no oversight/monitoring despite having ADHD/learning issues

Nice human. He isn't going to win an award for volunteerism, but he is kind, polite, and does what is asked of him with little complaint.

He is a really thoughtful and respectful boyfriend to his long time girlfriend.

He has worked every summer since he was 15 and saved nearly all of the money - which will be spending money for college.

Kind and respectful boys.
In my opinion, nothing else matters as much.

My teenager washes the dishes without complaining.

My teen will not let me tell anybody that she won several engineering awards for her science fair project. She loves science and works hard, but doesn't want anyone to know. I haven't even told my extended family. Feel free to share about your teen here too! It doesn't have to be academic--acts of kindness too.