I have been in denial on this and avoiding updating the Stalker community on the status of my Son (SS-17).

The good news is that I have been able to prevent his Mother from killing him or causing him permanent disfigurement by skinning him alive or slow roasting him like a brisket on a Texas BBQ pit.

As many may recall we had a challenging T-Giving holiday with several discussions around "are you completely current on all of your school assignments". All we heard was "Yes, I am all caught up". BULLSHIT!!!!! I posted the content of his midterm progress report that was waiting for us when we returned home from the extended family T-Giving festivities.

Well ...... he flunked the first semester of his Sr year of HS. All he needed to graduate was to pass Eng 4A and 4B (first and second semester Sr Eng). Needless to say he did not manage to pass any of his core classes much less Eng. So as not to flush significant family financial resources down the crapper for the second semester, SS is no longer at the top notch boarding/Military school and today is his first day at our local HS. We live in a good school district but it is no where near the opportunity he shit all over last semester.

The poetic justice of the situation is that after an expedited transcript review now he not only needs Sr Eng but two career path classes and to complete a comprehensive Sr project. So he is in Sr Eng, Psych, Band and his Sr Project Seminar. He can still graduate in May 2010 due to block scheduling which gives a full year of credit for one semester of class due to extended contact hours.

He is going to have to bust his ass to graduate on time which was not even an option at the Mil School. The earliest he can graduate at Mil School is Dec 2010 which would cost us another ~10K plus travel costs. NOT HAPPENIN BUCKO!

As I indicated in the opening of this post, my Wife is ready to kill the kid. She finally let him know in no uncertain terms last night that she is hurt, embarrassed and pissed and that he better not screw this semester up.

The straw that broke the camel's back was this e-mail that she received from the Leadership Advisor for his Cadet unit at Mil School.

"Mrs. (Rags),

(Skids) personal items were boxed and the Physical Plant will take them to the Greyhound Bus Station for shipment home (COD). I labeled each box 1 through 6 and also put your phone number on each box (XXX) (XXX-XXXX). The Bus Station closest to you should call when they arrive.

I must tell you that when the wall locker and personal box were unlocked I was amazed at the accumulation of (?). Just to let you know the reason the boxes were packed the way they are is because that is the way his items were found (could have used a shovel).

I personally turned in his JROTC Gear and have taken his Clearance Form around to all of the Offices on Post.

I am sorry that things have not worked out for (Skid) this semester and wish him the best in everything.

Regards,
Chief"

She was pissed when we picked up the boxes on Sat and saw the shit that was in them. My Wife was mortified and embarrassed when she got the e-mail. She held the e-mail in the Skids face and read him the riot act. The kid just stood there repeating "Yes Ma'am, Yes Ma'am .....) complete with wrinkly chin and tears in his eyes. He ran upstairs to get his school stuff ready for today while I held my wife as she sobbed. He came down stairs to see me holding his sobbing mother. I mouthed "FIX IT!" to him when we locked eyes. He mouthed back "Yes Sir, I will". We shall see.

So, my Son can graduate on time but he is going to have to lock, load and stay focused every minute of every day for the next 5mos. If he fails this semester I am not sure I am going to be able to save him from his Mother.

Kids, can't live with them and can't kill them. Unless you are one of those evil StepDads we have been discussing on other threads.

Wait, I am a StepDad! }:)

Best regards,