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One of my children neglected to bring home a copy of the word list for the spelling bee at school or even tell me about it. When I found out about it he said he didn't want to do it. I told him he was doing it and to ask his teacher for a copy of the list but he forgot. So I asked the teacher, she said she had it out all week but then recycled any extra copies and didn't have any more. So I asked the mother of his friend to send me a copy, she did but I couldn't read it. I decided to drop it but told my child that he needed to try his best.

He came in 3rd in his class without studying so he's an alternate in the school-wide bee if 1st and 2nd can't make it. When I see him I want to say something about how 3rd is amazing but if he had studied he could have been 1st or 2nd. DH thinks I should shut it.

What to do?

I don't know what I would say but that is awesome. :lol

He didn't want to do it, he did it anyway, he came in 3rd, be happy with that.

Ditto to Squig

It's going to be so hard! :lol He knows this already without me telling him right?

Yes, he does. And maybe spelling bees just aren't what motivates him, even if you want them to be.

I don't understand your insistence on doing a spelling bee he didn't want to.

Everyone has to do the spelling bee, he didn't want to study for it. Sorry, didn't make that clear in the OP.

Ok that makes more sense.

I agree with your dh.

I would have looked at it like he was essentially refusing to do his homework. If the spelling bee is a school requirement, and he didn't study for it, that's him not fulfilling his responsibilities.

I would drop it. Maybe all the attention makes him nervous?

Totes shut it, helicopter mom.

I would have more of an issue with the school forcing kids to do the spelling bee.

I didn't say anything!

Believe it or not I'm actually not a helicopter mom when it comes to school :razz. I almost never contact the teacher, I haven't had a conference for him in years. If I have any concerns I have a sit and wait approach and see if it plays itself out and it almost always does.

This child has always been a straight A student with almost no involvement from me. He seems to be self motivated and I mostly just stay out of his way and let him do his thing which I guess I should have just done this time but it was so unlike him to say he wasn't going to study. Guess he knew he'd be fine :lol

Yeah - I don't like that either. Neither of my kids can spell for shit and that would suck to be forced into a situation that might be embarrassing!

And I'm someone who never studies my husband and oldest child are the same. Studying makes me do worse.

i would have said something, but im a pusher like that. 3rd is awesome, but he couldve gotten 1st if he had studied!

I would totally say that :lmao

I don't agree with forcing them to do it either. it's tough for some people to get up in front of others.

my kid went to district spelling bees over and over in grade school only because she got to ride in the principal's car and eat a doughnut after it was over. :lol