The Report Card

Chad and I went to Joseph's parent teacher conference yesterday. I was a little anxious. Last year, he was in Reading Recovery and ended up seeing a private tutor before he "got" reading. We'd been warned at his last parent teacher conference that it was common for children to regress during the summer. I kept my fingers crossed that he had retained everything he'd learned about reading last year.

He did.

I breathed a sigh of relief and listened while she told us how well he was performing in math and science.

We smiled and nodded while his teacher told us what a joy he was to have in the classroom, how kind he was, how polite he was, how well he was doing. We laughed a little when she explained he got an S- in handwriting. The child seems to think the lines on paper are mere guidelines rather than rules.

She shared some of his class work and we smiled along with her at his imagination. Then, we saw his report card.

She went through each item. There were a lot of E's and even more S+'s on the "Social" column.

Chad and I went a little quiet, still nodding and smiling, but not nearly as excited. In our heads, our 1980's childhood heads, S = B, E = A. She gave our son straight B's socially.

We thanked the teacher, asked if there was anything she needed for her class, and then left. We walked towards the playground in silence. Finally, Chad said softly, "What did you think?"

I chewed my lip for a second and then blurted out, "What the hell is up with all those S+'s?"

"Right?" Chad jumped in. "She told us how awesome he was socially and then she gave him an S+? What the hell?"

"I don't get it. He's an awesome kid. A pleasure to have in her class. Shouldn't that equal an E?" I asked in exasperation.

"She is obviously a tough grader," Chad said nodding.

"No kidding," I agreed with my fellow first born, earth sign ex.

"I don't get it."

"S+..." I muttered waving brightly to the kids who were running up the steps. "He's so an E socially."

Chad nodded next to me. I laughed, realizing we were those parents.

But I'm fine with that because seriously, that child exceeds expectations socially all the friggin' time.


Author's Note: In all seriousness, we are very proud of Joseph and impressed by his teacher who seems like an amazing woman.