April 07, 2003~~7:38 p.m.
Never stop looking...

He drives me crazy, this kid. I'm on him every week about responsibility and getting his work done and being on time. Nothing.ever.sinks.in. And dealing directly with his mom is no better. Classic evidence of the flakiness gene.

As a result, our meetings aren't as much fun as the meetings with many of my students. I dread Monday morning like the plague. Will it be a good week? Is he going to have his work done? Am I going to have to have the talk again?

Today wasn't too bad, but like many of our meetings a lot of time was spent trying to figure out how we're going to make up all the ground he's lost so far this year by not getting things done on time. I've kinda given up on actually getting through to him (which I hate) and just hope from week to week that some miracle will happen and he'll get my assignments completed. I've talked with the other teachers who have him in their workshops and they concur that he just seems kinda tuned out and unaware much of the time.

On my drive in this morning I was actually thinking about what will become of this child when he's grown. As-is, he'd drive a wife insane and his attendance would make it difficult to hold down a steady job. I tried looking for something, ANYTHING he's shown me that he has a passion for. There has just been no evidence of light behind his eyes all year. There MUST be something in this kid... some skill or quality to build on. Why can't I find it?

Anyway, today was much like every other day I've spent with him. Right up until the very last minute as he was about to walk out the door of my office. He turned back.

Alice? I really like your new hair. It looks great.

This twelve year old boy took notice of something different about me and took the time to pay a compliment.

I have trouble getting as much from my thirty-six year old husband. I was floored.

I learned something about that kid today. In those two sentences I learned more about him than nearly a year of academics has shown me.

He may or may not grow up to be prompt. He may or may not develop into the greatest writer or scientist or mathematician. He may or may not be incredibly passionate about his interests. But he'll notice the details and take time to say so. And if that's not a pretty damn important quality in a person, I don't know what is.

~Alice