madremissy wrote: since the day a school superintendant looked me in the eye and said "That boy will never amount to anything, you need to give up on him"

I hope you slapped him. Perhaps I am naieve, but I don't give up easily on dogs... how do you give up on a
kid?
I think he has come a long way. It just gave me the incentive to fight that much harder for my child. Look at him today. He has a very successful job, has excelled and been promoted many times and is one of the best Daddy's and husbands I know.
Good for him... and good for
you.Bristol and Alison being were abandoned by their mother and told they needed to quit school and deal with it.

again... ok, I grew up in a small middle class town, small public school about 100 per grade, highly rated, etc... I can't
imagine the school telling any students to just leave, no matter what the circumstances. My dad had to relocate his job my junior year of high school, and the school was helping my parents find me a place to live so that I would be able to finish high school there. My school also called your house when you didn't show up by second period.
Don't ever give up on your kids, be there for them when they need you and tell them how proud you are of them everyday.
absolutely!
A little self esteem goes a long way.
so does a swift kick in the pants...

Both sure did me good growing up!