Typical Parent-Teacher Conferences

Today, the boys had parent-teacher conference. I asked them before-hand what their teachers were going to tell me. Trey's answer was "I don't know," which is his answer for most things. He's a boy of not-so-many words. Kevin told me that his teacher would probably tell me that he talks to much. Not surprising. He's a boy of way-too-many words.

Trey -

Straight A's, Straight H's. Reads at a 3rd grade level. Very obedient and helpful. Good example to other kids. His teacher even told him he could talk more if he wanted to.

So typical. He does not want to stand out, so he always behaves so that the teacher does not have to bring attention to any bad behavior. His goal is to blend in. He is CRAZY at home, but is very reserved at school. When he does something, he does it to a perfection. It shows in his school work.

Trey is so completely different from the terrorist child I imagined he would be when he was two. He is happy, mellow, determined and sensitive. It is so fun to watch his school personality develop, because it is so different from his personality at home. At home, he is the nut of the family who is always making us laugh. At school, he is the quiet kid that never speaks out of turn or breaks a rule. I love seeing these different parts of him develop.

Kevin -

Was a little nervous. When his teacher asked him why, he said that he was nervous about getting a B and about getting in trouble for talking. She was SO good at telling him his strengths and making him feel good about himself. He got all A's and a B+, which is pretty dang good. She did tell him that he needs to work on his "talking." Ha Ha!

Again, so, so, so typical. This is about the same report he has received since starting Kindergarten. Great grades, great kid, just needs to work on not talking so much. His teacher said that he is not disrespectful, not mean. "He just has a lot of friends, and wants to talk to them...all the time." So, I will remind him not to talk so much as he goes out the door every morning.

Since I have been told this for the past five years, I've thought a bit about it. I want him to behave, but being "social" (the word used every year since Kindergarten) is part of his spirit. It's part of who he is, and has been since he could talk. I don't want to break that. I like that he feels like he is best friends with whoever he sits next to. I will help him know when he should zip his mouth and listen, but I will also encourage him to continue to be social. This is a characteristic that I LOVE about him. So I apologize in advance to all of his future teachers, because this seems to be a pretty strong trend.

So it seems my children are complete opposites. Trey's teacher is telling him to talk more if he wants, say something silly, goof off once in a while. Kevin's teacher is telling him to please SHUT UP, but in an I'm-a-teacher-so-I-have-to-be-nice sort of way.

I wouldn't change a thing about either of them. Love, love, love their polar opposite personalities.