My son has switched schools for every major growth period, each time for a different reason.
asserted
son → switch → reason
We switched him from his early elementary school to another one when we moved neighbourhoods; we switched him to a different middle school because we didn’t like the way the middle school was run at his current school.
asserted
school → switch → school
We switched him to a different high school even though his middle school had a high school attached because we thought it was too small a community.
asserted
it → switch → school
He’s now starting Grade 10, his second year at this high school, and he’s asking to switch.
asserted
he → start → school
We obviously don’t have a problem switching him, but we need a viable reason.
asserted
we → have → reason
It’s not as easy as one-two-three, so we must understand why we’re putting in the effort.
asserted
we → ’ → effort
But he can’t seem to give us a good reason.
asserted
he → seem → reason
It’s a little late in the year to be patient and try to figure him out.
asserted
It → ’ → him
How do we understand this?
asserted
we → understand → this
Luckily, it’s never too late to switch schools, though there are consequences as every week passes.
asserted
week → ’ → schools
It’s only two weeks into the new school year, so from a student perspective, it shouldn’t be a tough move.
asserted
it → ’ → perspective
However, depending on what type of school you’re looking at, many will be at capacity.
asserted
many → depend → capacity
And yes, I agree, it’s imperative to know his why so you can react accordingly.
asserted
you → agree → ?
Are the academics too high where he’s at?
asserted
he → ’ → ?
Is he feeling a single-gender school isn’t for him?
asserted
school → feel → him
Does he need more athletics?
asserted
he → need → athletics
Just a few examples of what he could be thinking, and each will garner a different response.
uncertain
each → think → response
Try having a meeting with his school’s guidance counsellor to see if your son will speak up in a third-party setting.
asserted
son → have → setting
Have the guidance counsellor explain all the adults want what’s best for him, but that’s hard to decipher without his input.
asserted
that → have → input
If he still stays quiet, you may need to find a therapist who he’ll talk to.
uncertain
he → stay → who
I have two siblings who are eight and 10 years older than me.
asserted
who → have → me
When I was a kid they used to speak in code, but I never knew it was code.
asserted
it → use → code
I just thought they were cool kids who had lots of friends and were very helpful around the neighbourhood.
asserted
who → think → neighbourhood
They’d say things like, “Have you spoken with Mary Jane today?”
asserted
you → say → Jane
Little did I know they were talking about marijuana.
asserted
they → know → marijuana
I thought my one brother had all these cool friends with names like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam.
asserted
brother → think → Daniels
I was raised with a stricter hand, and only recently had my first taste of alcohol.
asserted
I → raise → alcohol
My older brother took me out to celebrate the birth of his baby.
asserted
brother → take → baby
He’s 35; I’m 25.
asserted
I → ’ → ?
We went to a bar, and he ordered two Jack and Coke’s.
asserted
he → go → Jack
When I saw the bartender pull out the bottle of Jack Daniels, I couldn’t believe it.
asserted
I → see → it
I told my brother what I always thought, and he hasn’t stopped teasing me since.
asserted
he → tell → me
It sounds to me like your older siblings, along with your parents, were working hard at sheltering you from all the vices your brothers were already dabbling in.
asserted
brothers → sound → vices
Next time you see your brother, tell him to stop teasing you.
asserted
you → see → you
Point out he was clearly an excellent actor because he did what he set out to do, which was to keep you ignorant of his antics.
asserted
which → point → antics
And if he continues to tease you don’t let it bother you.
asserted
it → continue → you
He successfully kept you away from the bad things during your teenage years.
asserted
He → keep → years
Reader: “This story caused me to recall memories of my childhood and my smelly feet.
asserted
me → cause → childhood
As a very young teen I was terrified and very embarrassed that I would have to take off my shoes at someone’s house as my feet really stank.
asserted
feet → embarrass → house
It had very little to do with my bathing habits as I was to later find out.
asserted
I → have → habits
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
