Half Way

by Kelly Knowlden

Now that we are at the half way point of the year, I wanted to mention some things that cannot be half-way.

1. Students cannot be “half way” done with homework. Oh, they will never say that. But they will come up with vague answers to your questions about whether they are done with their work that ought to be alerts to you that perhaps you’d better look at each item specifically. You are building character that way. You are holding them accountable to their word. You are able to deal with untruths that makes their character not trustworthy. You are showing them the importance of being a person of integrity that does what he says and says what he does.
2. Tasks begun cannot be done “half way.” When our children clean their room or wash the dishes, help them see that the task is not done until you say that it is done. A clean bedroom will not have things hurriedly stuffed under the bed or in the closet so it is out of sight. Dishes washed will mean that the sink strainer is cleaned out or the dishwasher is emptied or whatever standard you set. 
3.  “Half way” cannot mean that the rest of the year is a slide. What happens during the next month and a half is that students get tired of winter, of school work, of dull routines. The half way point is exciting to us as adults in that it shows us how far we’ve come. To young people it means that there is another half to go. Encourage them with unexpected adventures. Simple things work best: like a picnic in the living room or a night of board games together. The anticipation of the event is “half” of the fun. 

I’d like to mention that your response to “half way” is what carries the day - like this: Parents cannot see half way as no-hope-for-change. If your student is struggling and has not established the habits necessary to succeed, then “half way” is not a time for giving up. Rather it is a clarion call to make changes now before it becomes too late. If your child is in this last category, make sure that you are calling the teacher and asking for some time to troubleshoot problems and come up with solutions. We want to serve you in that way.