Retiring Guy's Digest: On this day in 2001 (Middleton Wisconsin)

Before leaving for work this morning, I put some browned round steak and two cans of cream of mushroom soup in the crockpot. Our schedules prevented us from having a family meal, though. Eddie had (has, actually, since he’s still there) a 6 o’clock basketball practice, so I ate an early supper with him. Andy attended the 7^th grade Kromrey girls basketball game after school and still (at 6:30) isn’t home yet. No phone call to let us know where he is, which, I suspect, is at Alissa’s house. JoAnna returned home a few minutes after 6:00. It was a perfect evening to take advantage of the convenience of a crockpot supper.

Eddie brought home his report card the other day. The second quarter evaluation is a decidedly mixed one. Overall, his letter grades were just slightly better than the first quarter. He showed improved in Language (C to C+) and Reading (C to B-), stayed even in Spelling (B-), Math (B), and Science (B), and fell down a half step in Social Studies (B+ to B). His effort grades in work habits and social skills are an area of great concern as they demonstrate a movement in the wrong direction. In fact, his social skills are on a downward spiral. In each of the six areas of evaluation, he received an “I” (inconsistent).

*Shows consideration for peers (S- in 1^st quarter)

*Shows consideration for adults (S-)

*Interacts well with peers in an unstructured setting (P)

*Shows self control (S-)

*Respects property of school, self, and others (S-)

*Works without interfering with other students (I)

(S = satisfactory; P = progress shown)

In two areas of his work habits, he received the lowest possible evaluation: N = needs improvement.

*Follows directions (oral/written). Eddie’s inability to do so on a regular basis explains why he is oftentimes unable to explain the specifics of a particular homework assignment.

*Works well independently. Because he is so easily distracted, his teacher sometimes has him do his work in a secluded corner of the classroom.

Mrs. Solie included this comment on Eddie’s latest report card: “When Eddie gets settled down, he does fine work. He does blurt out and distract his peers during work time. He is trying hard to improve this and is cooperative in the efforts. He is a very intelligent person and has the potential for super things once he has his energy channeled.”

In this music report card for the 1^st semester, the teacher checks the “meets expectations” column for attitude/effort but notes, “although he needs to be less verbally responsive to everything I say in class. He has become like an echo….which is okay, but not when not asked to be!”

As I observed to JoAnna during our walk this morning, “Sometimes I think the inside of Eddie’s head is like ten conversations going on at the same time, Eddie wanting to know what’s going on in every single one of them all of the time.”

Tomorrow Eddie and I have an appointment with his pediatrician, ostensibly to discuss the medication he is taking, something we’ve been doing on a semi-annual basis, but also to set the stage for some counseling with a behavioral specialist. Dr. Koslov gave me the name of a doctor at the beginning of the school year, but JoAnna and I decided to see how things progressed for Eddie at least during the first half of 4^th grade. Obviously, they are not moving along the path we had hoped. Eddie has brought home two classroom removal forms during the past week. Parents receive one of these whenever a child doesn’t abide by the school’s code of conduct. In Eddie’s case, a check mark appears in the box next to “repeated aggression”. It’s usually a disagreement at recess that leads to punching and kicking, Eddie showing an inability to control his anger, for which he is always instantly remorseful. Unfortunately, he just can’t seem to avoid those hair-trigger responses. That’s why JoAnna and I feel some professional counseling is in order. Eddie has so many wonderful qualities that it would be a shame if his currently hot-and-cold running personality turned him into a pariah.

Later in the evening

All three televisions are currently in operation. Stretched out on the couch in the family room and cocooned in a comforter, JoAnna is watching ER, a show I’ve never been able to warm up to. Fresh out of the shower, Eddie is watching ER in the kitchen, finishing up a bowl of Rice Krispies. Still needing to take a shower, Andy is lying on his stomach on his parent’s bedroom watching some made-for-TV movie on the Disney Channel. Once I’m done with today’s portion of this letter, I plan to place a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of a brownie I bought at Brennan’s earlier this evening. I’d be better off eating one of the apples or bananas that were included in my bag of purchases, but my sweet tooth is presently at full roar.

I have a taste for ice cream even though the wind chill is supposed to reach -35° by early tomorrow morning.

“I’m not walking,” JoAnna said emphatically when I told her this news.

“I think I’ll take a pass, too,” I said in agreement.

At least now the sky in the east is starting to lighten during the last ten minutes of our walks.

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