Last semester the kids did terribly in school. DH took a turn on them and insisted on them bringing grades up. In addition, he paid a visit to SS's school and had a conference with the teacher. Teacher did not even know that SS's parents are divorced, and that he's with mom only during the week. At that point, teacher said SS needed to focus more, do his HW and turn in assignments. He had not turned in assignments for 6 weeks for one subject! DH also gave BM a piece of his mind because of this. She's there with them on a daily basis, so it's really her role to make sure HW is done and is turned in.

Anyway, DH was also supposed to visit SD's school last semester, but really hadn't gotten the time. Ever since he visited SS's school, SD has been ASKING about when he's going to have a conference with her teachers. She really cannot stand that SS got dad's attention in a way that she didn't. Now, her grades were atrocious last semester, and she has improved somewhat this semester. BUT, guess what comment she now has for 3 out of 7 subjects! Yup - Failure to hand in assignments. SD may not be able to do math and language very well, but she sure is cunning.

Anyway, so one school conference coming up!

I gave them math to do over the weekend and SS11 had to show SD(almost 13) how to do long division. He beat her at the mental math games I gave them to play. But SD is not concerned, and neither is her mother. Their concerns at the moment - SD NEEDS braces, so she will not have to feel embarrassed and guys will want to date her; and DH has to buy SD a car when she turns 16 (BM is saying this, not SD) because that's what BM's parents did, and DH's parents helped him to pay for one when he was 16.

This weekend I told SD that she's lucky I'm not her mother (because she would NOT get away with not doing HW or not turning in assignments on my watch). Looking back now, I dunno if that actually counts as saying something bad about her mom, (which I absolutely strive not to do) so I have to be wary of that.