Back to reality, WHOOP, there goes gravity

Did I just quote Eminem?

Yes I did.

School started back today!!!!! I was so excited! I mean, it was okay being home and sleeping late and eating delicious home-cooked meals and hanging out with family (and Katie) and celebrating the advent of Christ for two solid weeks, but enough is ENOUGH! I've got young students to inspire, people! Time to hop up out the bed, get my swag on and feed those hungry minds!

Did I just simultaneously quote Soulja Boy and Willow Smith?

Yes I did.

Back to the grind. And if I thought for a moment that I would come back to some subdued students tired from the break, I was dead wrong. All pistons firing, here!

Duh.

I got to see so many people over the break who let me know they were keeping up with my blog--some I didn't even know were following. I can't tell you how many encouraging words and promised prayers I received. What a wonderful Christmas present! God truly performed miracles last year, and your prayers were very much a part of that. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

This evening, I find myself doling out advice to parents. And for what? I know nothing about parenting. Despite the past year and a half, I still know verry little about what goes on in the mind of a fourteen-year-old boy (thank God). And yet here I am, offering words of wisdom(?) and consolation to their parents like I know what I'm doing.

It started when I called home for one particular student. He's an A student, respectful and mild-mannered. However, the past few weeks he's been slacking and talking over instruction 50% of the time. His dad came in for a conference at the beginning of the year and encouraged us to not let up on him; he wanted more for his son than just being an A student, he wanted him to exceed all expectations.

What a good Dad. I wish more of my kids had men like him in their lives. I called this man tonight and let him know what I was seeing.

"I just don't know..." his voice cracked. "I just don't know why. I try to tell him, try to let him know the alternative to reaching your potential. You end up where I am. Not that I'm in an awful place, I'm just not where I'd like to be, you know? I was always a straight-A student, but I didn't do as well as I could have, and now...well now...I just want more for him, you know. I'm sorry I'm getting emotional; I just don't know what to do with him. I don't know what it is."

My heart broke. "Sir, you have a good son. He's constantly around kids who don't have expectations to meet. You expect great things from your son, and he knows it. He just needs to be reminded of that sometimes so he can get back on track. You're right to be upset when he's not meeting those expectations and to continue to crack down on him and hold on to those expectations. I'm not worried about your son turning out all right; he's got you."

"Well, I'm not sure what we're going to do here. I'm going to call his grandfather and get some advice too."

I started. It hit me that this man was probably not even a decade older than me. I pictured myself having a middle-school son who was acting up in school. I'd probably be calling Mom and Dad too.

"I'll let you know what we decide to do with him, and I might ask for your help too."

"Anything I can do," I quickly responded. Though, again, I'm no Dr. Phil. I have experience in rearing golden retrievers...?

How is it I'm in this position where so much authority and responsibility rest on my shoulders? It is both incredibly scary and incredibly humbling to know I was chosen to be in this place at this time. Not by my merit, but by His alone.

Happy New Year's! Only one more semester to go!