My son can’t analyze a novel because he was raised by “strong women” according to his ELA teacher.

[whycantijustlogin]

My son is living with my mom for his senior year because I moved closer to the schools my other kids attend 150 miles away. This week was her first time attending a parent-teacher conference in decades. His English teacher ipened their conversation with “I suspected “Kid name” was raised by strong women.” My mom says “Well yes, thank you.” He then rolls into how my kid is struggling because he doesn’t understand the emotional nuance in the reading material even though he reads very quickly and has excellent retention. It is a standard English class and the teacher is also confused because almost all my kid’s other classes are AP or IB and he is getting good grades in them. In fact, his other teachers could not say enough good things about him as a student.

Mom kept her cool and explained that kid has unofficially diagnosed autism. (He is also passing the class with a B, so there is actually no problem.) The teacher then ended the conference. Did not want to hear that isn’t my or my mom’s fault that my kid struggles with understanding feeling conveyed indirectly in text.

Before anyone gets on me about not having my kid’s diagnosis wrapped up and presented to his school – I was in the process when it became obvious that the public schools I had enrolled him in before high school could NOT handle my kid in a respectful, helpful, or compassionate way. School stressed him tf out and it was better for his development to homeschool him .The Sudburry style school he went to for a year was great before I ran out of money for tuition. He has friends and runs a weekly DnD group that is made up largely of the kids who are also part of the gay/straight alliance at school. He is doing fine socially now that he has grown into himself and has more self control. Aside from his comparative “struggles” of only getting an average grade in an average English class, there are not problems at school – he’s graduating HS this year with only a Writing 121 credit short of an associates in computer science. Also, am a simgle mom with 4 kids. I have limits and an IEP for high school for a kid who doesn’t need one is not where I needed to put my energy.

Whatever. My mom (and me too, tbh) are fuming that this teacher wanted to blame the women in his life for my kid’s alleged shortcomings. Like nah dude – my kid and I have spent countless hours talking about social interactions and feelings. He isn’t f’ing broken and aside from my genetic contribution, his neurodivergence isn’t because of how I raised him – probably the opposite.

Sorry for writing a novel.

Discussion

[nomanisanisland2020]

As a (now grown) queer autistic who fucking excelled in some classes and was “meh” in others, thanks for standing up for your kid, letting them be who they are, and being a shield from the dumbfucks while they’re still growing. You sound like an awesome mom.