Report Card Day

March 14th, 2008 · 13 Comments · The Homefront

My boys will bring their second term report cards home today. I am expecting mixed results.

My oldest has had a term where everything was a battle. That little sign over our door…..

He has been doing his best to make sure it rings true.

“Nihil Facile” It’s Latin. It means “Nothing Is Easy”.

The sign was a gift from my parents, my Dad really. Growing up we had a similar sign over the door at the old homestead. When we all set out on our own, we would get a sign of our own. A constant reminder that life is hard sometimes.

What makes it harder is that his little brother excels pretty much in all aspects of academics. They are both real bright kids, but my oldest just has it in his head that school can not be fun, must not be fun and it just breeds angst and the angst just breeds difficulty. We are in the process of doing what we can do to make things better for him, but until we start seeing progress we are up to our ears in Nihil Facile.

I hope to be pleasantly surprised but what I see with the report card this afternoon. We shall see.

EDIT: I left my daughter out. I sorta forget Kindergarteners get report cards too. She brought home a very nice report! Well done La!

EDIT #2: Boys are home. The one I was expecting to be good was GREAT! Straight A’s (he had one B+ last term).

The one I was anxious about wasn’t bad. Grades went up in 3 subjects (one from a C to an A!). Two did go down, but nothing worse than a C. The problem is, he’s not C student material. That’s the frustrating part.

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Tags: Kids·The Homefront

13 responses so far ↓

1 Jodi(aka daizie) // Mar 14, 2008 at 9:46 am

I like that…I will have take a picture of the stencil I did on the stairs header as you come down …
Stercus Accidit….Shit happens…LMAO
seriously…of course yours is more…ummm
nice?
2 jason // Mar 14, 2008 at 10:30 am

Love the sign and the message. That’s a great tradition in your family.

Best wishes for high marks and a great weekend.

jason’s last blog post..Foto Friday
3 Rick Astley // Mar 14, 2008 at 10:38 am

Nothing’s easy - especially Latin.

Good luck this afternoon.

Rick Astley’s last blog post..Trick Shot
4 Big sister // Mar 14, 2008 at 11:10 am

The tradition reaches South America!! My “Nihil Facile” sign is tucked away in my shipment which supposedly arrived in country yesterday.

Now to get the crates through customs and delivered (a situation ripe for potential “nihil facile” moments, I fear!)

Hmm, do the boys know that your multitudes of readers are all awaiting word of their educational exploits?
5 struglas // Mar 14, 2008 at 11:17 am

it seems to me that this is where the real parenting begins. these days scare me. good luck!

struglas’s last blog post..3285ish days (13 march 1999 — 13 march 2008)
6 Kim // Mar 14, 2008 at 1:32 pm

What a great tradition. Heres hoping to high grades!

Kim’s last blog post..Lotus: HoF’oSho - Paying It Forward
7 tom // Mar 14, 2008 at 3:31 pm

I don’t know the school he’s going too but I’ve had that experience, having a boy you know is smart but not performing to potential. He’s doing great now working in San Diego in the financial industry..Sometimes school isn’t challenging enough or interesting enough,,Real Life and some challenging times helped my son find his niche..Don’t worry too much, just encourage!! My unsolicited opinion can be disregarded without offense (-:

tom’s last blog post..Old Paint Factory Gloucester, MA
8 HP // Mar 14, 2008 at 4:52 pm

Gonna have to get me a sign like that.

I’m sort of early blog hopping as there are so many that I can’t reach all of the blogs!–HP

HP’s last blog post..Testing a Poll
9 Tara R. // Mar 14, 2008 at 8:15 pm

I feel your pain, my two kids are switched… the oldest is an A student almost without trying, the younger struggles to keep he head above water when he is actually the brighter of the two. “Nihil Facile” indeed!

blog hoppin’ - etcetera

Tara R.’s last blog post..It has begun
10 damon // Mar 14, 2008 at 9:14 pm

I have the same sign in my house!

…except mine’s over the bathroom door.
11 Kudzu Queen // Mar 14, 2008 at 9:26 pm

I. Must. Have. That. Sign. Not for the kids, for the husband. LOL.
Keep looking for ways to challenge and reward your eldest. One day something will click, and then it will spread. He may never love school, but when he finds something he likes, that will help the whole situation.

Blog-Hopping

Kudzu Queen’s last blog post..Freaky Friday - In Hot Water
12 Kudzu Queen // Mar 14, 2008 at 9:26 pm

Seriously, where can I get a sign like that?

Kudzu Queen’s last blog post..Freaky Friday - In Hot Water
13 Robj98168 // Mar 19, 2008 at 6:22 pm

Don’t worry about the “C’s”.. when I work for a local school system on of the teachers would just shudder giving a c to a certain student as she knew the parents would be in asking what to do, and what her measurments for her casket where- she would tell them “A “C” stands for normal- just be glad you’re child is normal”. and that would really set them off!

Robj98168’s last blog post..GREEN DAY