aaargghhhh ds1!!!

[basildonbond]

11pm tonight - ds1(13) pops up to tell me that he was supposed to have done a science project this weekend, it's due in tomorrow, and can I write him a note excusing him as he's been at a sports event all day today and yesterday ....

However, when I asked him on Friday if he had any homework he specifically said 'no', homework had finished for the term (they break up on Friday)

I refuse to write a note, cue much huffing and puffing "leave me alone", "can't you even do one tiny little thing for me that would take you 2 minutes?", "right, when you ask me to do things I won't help you as you're not helping me", "no, I'm not blackmailing you, I'm trying to help you"

What really gets me is that he didn't even attempt to get it done - if he'd not lied about his homework I'd have made sure he started it at least (he has had an extremely busy weekend), but his attitude that he can leave it to the last possible moment, then persuade me to get him off hte hook has just left me with steam coming out of my ears

He'd better not try to pull a sickie tomorrow - I know how his mind works

Tell him to do it now!!!!!

Bloody projects. What will happen to him if he doesn't hand it in?

no idea, blackberry, and right now I don't care either!

part of me thinks it's ridiculous to set a project for the last weekend of term with such a short deadline, and I suspect he won't be the only one who won't have done it, but it's the fact that he deliberately engineered it so he had no time to do his homework, but 3 hours to play xbox that has annoyed me ....

he must have forgotten about it this morning as he swanned off with a cheery "love you"

well, you did right to stick to your guns, his problem if he can't be arsed- now let it go!!!

Weird one!. Yes, I suppose by 13 they have to take the flak and perhaps it will help to change their habits. Ds is 10 and had a meltdown about his (unstarted) project on friday. Apparently 'all the other mums' had writted excuse notes. In the end I wrote one but I let him stew for half and hour before relenting and I think it got through a bit. It still bugs me that they are handing out projects this late on, after he's gone through Sats and two other blimmin projects. Apparently this one is a 'fun' thing. My arse.

omg 'writted'?. Really I aren't illiterite.

Instead of writing an excuse note in future, ignore it and get together with other parents to make a point to the school en masse - it's summer time (or other) and children have other committments such a sport, very important to their development. Sounds as if the teacher ran out of ideas and put the onus onto the class. Lazy. Bring on the Academies!

Will this project be marked and returned before the end of term, giving constructive feedback, if not, what is the point?

Yes it is going to be marked thus making a lie of the 'fun' part while also being entirely pointless at this late stage.

I've spent the last 6 years trying to galvanise other parents on things like this only for them to say 'I think it's good for them' and suchlike and then get in a massive hump about things I find inconsequetial. Not sure what difference Academies would make - in fact I suspect they'll be even more riddled with pointless show-homework stuff to please the parents.

are you sure it was only just set and wasn't something he had forgotten to do?

Hi 2shoes - was that meant for me or OP?