Two Completely Separate Thoughts

The only thing these things have in common is that they are on my mind at the same time.

Nico is getting a C in gym. He is getting all A's and B's but a C in gym. I, of course, jumped the gun and reminded him that he gets grounded if he gets a C in a class I know he is capable of doing better (for example, the last two years, I was thrilled when he got a C in math because he was struggling so much). He very calmly (but was on his way to being upset) asked if he could tell me his thoughts on the subject. Priding myself on being fair, I said yes. He said, "I can't believe I am going to get grounded for getting a C in gym when I am as active as I am outside of school. It's because of the flags. I can't run them. I jog them and don't goof around. I try to get as many as I can but I still get an F for the day." I said I'd talk to Leo and when I did, his response was, "I don't really care that he is getting a C. It's a joke." I looked at the grade report again and saw that he was telling the truth. You have to get 30-33 flags to get an A (which in the beginning of the year, Nico did once). Since then he is battling injury after injury from football practice (nothing major...just a little beat up and his knee has been an issue on and off). On average, he jogs and gets 19 flags and it is an F.  They made them run on the hottest day of the year, he got 12 flags (it is ridiculous that they even had to run). There are only two ways to get grades in this gym class. Test/Quizzes (he is getting all A's) and the runs which are weighted the same as tests and quizzes which he is getting all F's. Am I the only one that thinks this is a ridiculous way to grade kids? For the last three weeks, Nico has been getting up at 6:00 to go to basketball intramurals, goes to school, comes home and then goes to football practice. It doesn't feel right to ground him for not getting more flags. I don't even know where he would pull the energy from at that time of day (last period) to even run faster. The other thing is why are we only hearing about this now? There isn't that much time to bring up their grades and we are only hearing about it now? I know there are other parents upset and I want them to be the ones that brings up these issues. I don't want to always be the PITA parent always complaining so this time I am staying mum until conference time. It's pretty sad that Nico would rather go to the sinus doctor where he will most likely say he needs surgery instead of go to gym this Friday.

The second thought is that I really, really need a girls' weekend. I know Leo is gone for work but I am guessing that he is eating good meals, sleeping through the night and fitting in a poker game here and there. That makes me want to eat good meals, sleep through the night and write in my books or read a book while sitting in the sun drinking a margarita. I tried to go to breakfast with friends of mine and Gia was terrible so I had to leave. I want some uninterrupted time with my friends. I want my stomach to ache from laughing so hard. I want to commiserate and check in and make sure that we are still on the same page. I don't want a girls' night. I want a whole weekend. I think it might bring some sanity back to the crazies that have taken up residence over here.