Our Son isn't "Normal"

Well that’s what they told us at the “trial” yesterday. Ok it wasn’t a trial it was a parent/teacher conference but it more closely resembled a trial. First off you would expect it to be a one on one meeting between teacher and parent but it’s not that way anymore. To start out with all the 5th grade teachers participated as some kind of unified front. Then they brought along the guidance counselor, the student psychiatrist and the principal for good luck. That makes it 6 to one odds. Pretty even I must say.

So what is "not normal" about our son you might ask? Well he just isn’t like the other kids. First off, he likes people and tends to get close to them and look them in the eye when he talks with them. He also smiles a lot which makes the other students as well as teachers nervous. As one teacher put it, he gets in my “space” when I am talking to him. To put it another way, most kids and adults don’t like it when you are less than 3 feet from them. He needs to be more normal and less warm and friendly. You know, show some disinterest or aggression.

Wait he is already showing too much aggression in his drawings. That is “not normal” item number 2. He is a big history buff and loves watching the history channel on TV. He doesn’t have any video games so that is what he does for entertainment. He loves airplanes and loves to draw them. Since they are usually fighter planes, it shows aggression. I used to draw similar scenes when I was his young and I can tell you that I am so far from aggressive it is not funny. We will work on teaching him to draw monsters and evil things so that he isn’t aggressive.

Ok here is “not normal” item number 3 and this one will shock you. He doesn’t dress like the other kids. He doesn’t follow the latest trends. He doesn’t wear those gangsta-pants with the crotch down to his knees. He prefers to wear sweat pants that fit him and could care less about fashion. Because of this the other kids pick on him. Ok let me get this straight. The other kids pick on him and this is HIS problem? Did I miss something?

And speaking of getting picked on, our son doesn’t know how to handle being picked on or aggressive behavior. You see we never fight or argue in front of him so he doesn’t recognize this kind of behavior. I guess we need to be more like normal parents and fight in front of our kids.

So after all that the Principal asked about his test scores. In SC they make the children take something called MAT tests, which show where your child stands in relation to other students his age in the state. The guidance counselor said “this isn’t about his test scores”. The Principal said he just wanted to know how my son was doing academically. Well he does test above 95% of all the kids his age she said.

I am so glad he isn’t “normal”.

Comments

Queenie said…
Greg,we had similar problems with my son who is now 25. After completing Uni with honours, he is now the director of two businesses. Is opening yet one more bussiness next year, owns his own home and car. I am so pleased that he wasn't normal also...

Greg my I please ask a big favour, would you please vote for my local forest "Sherwood", details are on my blog thank you.
Lori said…
It sounds like you have a great kid there. Whatever you are doing with him, you are doing it right! Don't change anything! I hope your sister had a good time in New York.
Janice Thomson said…
My grandson who is 14 faces the same bullying because he doesn't drink, smoke or take drugs nor does he wear the latest fashion in clothes. Unfortunately the city they live in has a high number of gangs in each school. Everyone, including the RCMP, is terrified of them and little action is taken against them. The school has claimed he too is not normal. My daughter has joined the rising number of parents who are now home-tutoring their children. In just 2 months his marks have doubled and he is back to his previous level. How sad this has to be the solution, (which not everyone is in the position to do), to an increasing problem of violence, injustice and fear within our Canadian school systems.
kirsten said…
Greg - I have to admit that when I saw the title of this post, I was thinking, "Thank GOD he isn't 'normal'!!" What is accepted as the norm now is hardly anything to live up to.

Your son sounds like a great kid who has great parents. I agree, I wouldn't change a thing. ;o)
-kirsten
Kati said…
OMG!!!!! Your son sounds like an absolute "throw back" to the grades & respectfulness & the artistic sensativities of 60+ years ago (sweat-pant wearing to school not withstanding). You'd think that the teachers would LOVE having an interested, education-minded child in their classes. I'm sorry to hear that your parenting & values are being degraded by calling your child "not normal". Quite honestly, if this were me, I'd have told the teachers something along the lines of "F*** normal!!!! MY kid is abnormal because he doesn't act suicidal and threaten to shoot up the school. GREAT!!!! At least there's ONE parent in this world with a mentally healthy child!" (But, my child falls within your school's perception of "normal" so I can't say that.)

Your son sounds like a kid with his head screwed on straight & who has the possibility to really make a difference in this world, once he gets out of this bone-head educational system that views HIM as abnormal.
Patty said…
Wouldn't you like to know what the teachers and Principals children were/are like?? Your son sounds like a great kid to me. I say it's good he's not "normal" Did they ever stop to think, perhaps it's the low slung pants and all that go with it that isn't normal.

Your son sounds like a really great kid to me. So you and wife must be doing something right.
Kim S in SC said…
When we homeschooled our three children, the whole world worried about socialization. I did too, that is why we homeschooled...who wants other children who bully, curse, lie, steal, and bring weapons to school socializing your children. Praying for a good resolution for you. BTW: I now work in public education and I know there are others trying to make a positive change in public education. Keep speaking up! Thanks for this post. I am passionate about education and know that it offers the chance for a future for so many. Hate to hear about it when it doesn't go right!
christianne said…
I'm glad your son isn't normal, either. He sounds like a great kid with lots of character. He sounds highly intelligent and interesting. He sounds like he knows what he likes and doesn't like. How many other kids his age can say the same??
Out of Sight L said…
So he's not of the 'collective' mind, how precious for a child his age, I'm delighted :)
Greg C said…
Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments. We will continue raising our children the way we always have in hopes that one day they will change the world. That is my goal too and I do it one person at a time. Thank you again everyone.
Wanda said…
Sorry I'm posting late, but trying to catch up on some previous that I missed.

I love your son, and I don't even know him. Like Janice, I have several grandchilden that age, and praise God, they are not normal either by the Worlds Standards!!
Great Post.
Kathy said…
What on earth has happened to our schools? I'm so afraid for these children who are being "taught" by these poor excuses for educators! Give that kid a hug...he probably needs one!

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