It’s weird; lately, it seems like I’m either in a really good mood or really wiped out. Very few moments of mildness or peace. While I don’t mind feeling super chipper, I think I’d trade a few of those times in exchange for mellowing out some of the other end of the spectrum. Also, I’ve been trying to go to bed earlier (though it’s not actually like I’ve been “trying”; it’s more of a “not sleeping right now isn’t an option” sort of thing), but I still feel tired in the evenings a lot more than I’d like. Mind you, I feel good in the mornings, waking up with or before my alarm and being able to do all that I want to then; it’s just that I wish I had energy to last me through the rest of the day.
It seems like my really low points coincide with when Sam gets home from school…and we’re receiving “progress reports” from his teacher each day, detailing negative behaviors. Again, though, here I go with the swinging back and forth. On the one hand, I can see where some of the things he does would be disruptive, and I definitely think they’re worth correcting. On the other hand, “Sam was biting his fingernails all day; please deal with this situation!” seems a bit severe. I mean, of course, we’re dealing with it (hand salve seems to be helping), but…really?
End of school can’t come soon enough. Just hanging on and waiting for next fall.
Related, we’re giving violin until the end of the school year, and at that point, we’re giving in. It’s hit the point where he’s become almost aggressively opposed to picking up the instrument, and he spends the entire class time with a scowl on his face and angry mutters on his lips about how much he hates the violin and wants to quit. This can’t be good for fostering a love of music. On the other hand, I’ve made Eric’s and my decision clear to him: if he quits this, we are taking at least a six-month hiatus from any and all lessons and classes (not counting the summer playground program; we mean things requiring a commitment and focus). He can’t decide in a few months that gymnastics sounds like a real blast, and that’s even if Gabe decides that he wants to do them. Sam needs to show us that he’s well and truly able to give his best to an activity before we’ll invest more time and money into it. Maybe that’s firm for an almost-eight-year-old, but I don’t intend to coast in and out of lessons that he wants to drop the moment that the newness wears off and the work begins.
I remember getting bored with activities as a kid and wanting to drop out. Heck, it’s why I switched from flute to piano in college; I went as far on both as I could without putting much actual gruntwork into them, and then I needed to decide which was going to be worth actual effort. Piano won for usefulness in the future, but I was still resistant to work, honestly. I just knew that I’d be more resistant to work on the flute. 
Lord, I’m lazy. At least I know it, though – and I see it in Sam.
Gabe is awake, I must dash.
I’m doing this race as my first 50K/ultra in July 2012. I’m so tardy to the party but...
Sam is probably biting his nails all day because his teacher is a joyless, uptight, nitpicky, pain in the —. Sheesh.
We don’t get progress reports, just emails. All the time. Ours are more about the fact that Audrey is a worrier. Yes, we know she worries and is a perfectionist. Yes, we know she still cries more easily than other six year olds. Yes! Now, please stop emailing! I’ve been ready for the school year to end for so long that it now seems strange that next week, it is.
I get emails now that my child is at a different school, and the emails are for both good and bad stuff. Which I want. As a teacher myself, I never just focus parent calls or emails on the bad. Glad I’ve trained my child’s teacher to my way of thinking.
Seriously though, at his last school (back when he was in preK there), I would get phone calls EVERY night at 7:30. It got so that I could set my watch to them.