Report Cards & Learning to Love Your Child After You’ve Read It
The hardest thing you ever have to hear about your child is that they are less than satisfactory. As a parent you can’t help but see your child as perfect in almost every way. That’s how it should be right? Therefore, the idea that someone else might not see them in this way is simply “earth shattering”. That’s what happens to you, though, the first time you read your child’s report card. The picture perfect mirror reflecting your child’s “the best they can be” aura is suddenly cracked and replaced with a lot of “could have done betters.” Ugh!
It’s one of my greatest sadness’s as a parent that I have been made to see my children through their teacher’s eyes.
Okay, no one report comes without the positives too. However, having to hear that my son is helpful and enthusiastic at all times is just as frustrating. Clearly his teacher is not faced with the same barrage of insults I receive whenever I ask him to tidy his room!
So fellow parents out there, here’s a checklist of possible insults insights into your child that you may have read on a recent or past school report. Please tick accordingly! (NB one or more may apply)
- lacks focus / has frequent lapses in concentration
- immature for age (that gets a double tick if your child was 5 and under when they received it)
- lacking in confidence
- overly confident
- talks too much in class
- needs to talk more during class discussions
- below average in…
- has failed to grasp the basic concepts
- has struggled with…
- generally tries hard
- poor effort
- is still struggling with..
- lacks key ball skills
- poor penmanship
- is excellent at colouring between the lines
And on the list goes. One of my all time favourites has to be “when she truly understands what it going on, then she really applies herself and does some excellent work.” No really? Can I remind you, teacher, exactly why she is at school in the first place.
I understand the restrictions a teacher faces in having to summarise (often) a year’s work in one or two paragraphs but still reading it is always going to be an equally hard challenge for the parent.
So go on teachers, the next time you are cutting and pasting catch phrases on to a child’s report have pity for the poor parent who still believes their child to be that very special person with the world at their feet. When it’s a choice between “tries really hard” or “could do better”, go on have a heart and pick the former.
Tuesdays With Dorie: Mint Chocolate Brr-ownies
If competitive present buying and health & safety hadn’t taken over where common sense left off, you might be making these gorgeous brr-ownies for your child’s teacher as an end of school gift. Instead they would be great served in small squares as an after dinner treat with coffee. Very gooey so I recommend lining your tin with foil instead of baking parchment. Also as we don’t have peppermint patties over here in England, I used Morrison’s after dinner peppermint creams (and no they’re not paying me to say that!). They are slightly thicker than after eights.
Please have a look over at Karen’s blog Welcome to our Crazy Blessed Life for the recipe. Be sure to check out all the other Tuesdays with Dorie participants too!
I cringe when those reports come and will be in desperate need of a few of these brownies!
My kid is only 4 so I have a few more years to go before getting a real report book. For now, notes from the teacher is rather positive. I try not to be one of those parents who think their kid is totally perfect and can do no wrong.
Oh the horror of school reports… we’ve not had any for mine yet but I just know they’ll end up being something for my husband to work himself into a state about. I will try not to take them too seriously myself but I dare say I will kick into defensive mode when the time comes.
Fabulous brownies and Morrisons do some very good chocolates – I like their turkish delight thins and their chocolate and orange peel dark chocolate (not being paid to say that either!!)
My oldest son is about to start Kindergarten this year, and I’m so nervous about the reports that will be sure to follow. Anyway…nice brownies!
My Mom made brownies much like these when I was a child, and I still crave them. Excellent!
Oh the horror of school reports and (what I remember most) to be damned with the faint praise of that single word ‘satisfactory’! Best to keep the brownies for yourself methinks.
Oh, reports. My no1 got a report which was fab, except she ‘needs to learn to be more competitive in team games’. Why? I’m not a team sports person, nor is her father. She’s an individualistic loner. Grrrrargh!
However (she said, smiling through gritted teeth) these look like a lovely present for teachers. Or frazzled parents. Yum.
I smiled, from start to finish, didn’t even have to get to the brownies to get a fix. I have a 1st grader who’s brought reports home for the last couple of years. Sometimes my heart starts and stops….but I know that my kids destiny will not be determined by what is written down….! It is well.
I love PMPs! So sad that they don’t have them here as I haven’t found another mint just as good by my standards.
I haven’t even thought beyond diapers much less choosing schools and report cards – ahhhh complicated!
I turned into a nervous wreck when my sons hand me their first school report card recently! Thankfully they are doing better in school than I ever did
Your brownies look so good. I used the Co-op brand of peppermint cremes! This recipe is a keeper!
Ugh, school reports. I do think these would make a great end of the school year treat though as well.
Thanks for baking with me this week!
I also “enjoyed” the live conferences where the teacher could tell you right to your face that your child was “not up to standard.” After a night of that I needed a straight Vodka and I don’t even drink! Anyway you all grew up and have accomplised so much – just as I dreamed you would. A mother does know best~
Ha ha, this one did make me laugh (through gritted teeth!) Relentless positive spinning can be just as bad though…I’m speaking as the mother of 2 children who have received certificates for “floating” (uh?) and “sitting still” (ditto) respectively.
Luckily, very luckily, school reports have been good. I imagine when the toddler gets older his cheeky nature may send other reports home…;0S
My mouth is now watering….really fancy a chocolate brownie now. X
I so hear you on the reports. I am still fuming quietly.
Those mint brownies look the business. I think we may be making some for teacher. Along with a knife perhaps?
It’s always good to emphasize the positive:)
These brownies look fabulous!
You make me laugh – even after a stressful day at work! Great post and beautiful brownies.
No kids here, but I’m sure that first report card will be interesting! You brownies look great, and I love the sprig of mint in the last pic — as if York Peppermint Patties contain anything natural! haha… love them anyway!
that’s a great list – my son is only 3 but nice to keep in mind for the future
nice looking brownies!
A 12 year old boy with a tidy room is as worrying as someone who believes a chocolate teapot actually has a chance of working! But…faith is a wonderful thing. At least where you are if they continually leave clothes, towels etc on the floor at least when you pick them up in UK there isn’t a two inch cockroach lurking underneath! They’re a big problem this year! X from Cyprus…see you guys next week – can’t wait. What shall I cook?
I had a teacher once who cut and pasted reports, he put in mine “Great attendance” when in fact I’d been off most of the year with sickness.
I quite often got “easily distracted” I think that means nosey.
Brownies look fab
I actually thought of using parchment, but then I went with the foil as Dorie suggested. You were very creative with yours! Yum.
Haha, my youngest got ‘enthusiastic’, which was possibly the best the teacher could muster. LOVE the brownies – fab idea x
The post over at mine about reports explains that often schools use software to give people a bank of statements! So ‘unpersonal’!
As for the baking – yum, yum!
Yes I read it with interest Julia. There is always another side.
Oh school reports, I was looking at mine the other day and it is terrible!
Yes luckily I have not kept any of mine! I would hate to think….