Fast Tracked and Other High School News

Heaven help us.  That's all I have to say.  A little over seven years ago, we made a choice that was the right choice for Tino AT THAT TIME.  He was bored to the point of misbehavior in his 1st grade private school class.  Public school would have meant repeating Kindergarten since he technically wasn't "old enough" to have already completed Kindergarten in the state of Florida.  We knew about one week into the school year that the private school wasn't the right fit for Tino.  We went to the public school.  Thank goodness the principal dared to think outside of the box and do something that was "against the law".  (Students are not allowed to enter Kindergarten until the age of five nor 1st grade until they are six years old according to Florida education code.)

Tino ended up "skipping" kindergarten and first grade.  This was a perfect educational accommodation until middle school and high school.  Did you know there is a huge difference both physically and socially between an almost 13 year old 9th grade boy and his almost 15 or 16 year old classmates?  And did you also know that although he holds his own academically, we sabotaged any chance he might have for high school sports?

So far Tino is embracing the high school experience.   This afternoon he told me "Mom, I am actually glad you made me go to Boone.  It's much better than Colonial".  Whoa.  This is coming out of the mouth of my son that has been mad at me for ruining his life by insisting he attend a law magnet high school which is one of the top high schools in the nation instead of going to his zoned high school which STINKS.

Today we reached a high school milestone.  First off, he asked to go to someone's house after school.  We compromised.  His friend (who is a senior) came to our house instead.  This evening he attended his first high school football game with three other friends from church.  Cristian and I just discovered that we don't have a plan in place for the high school social life.  EEK.  Being fast-tracked in academics has also inadvertently fast-tracked him into social situations that he would not otherwise be experiencing as a 7th grade student.

This is the text correspondence between Cristian and Tino this evening.
T:  Hey what up
C:  Nothing
T:  Right
C:  How's the game?
T:  Good I guess.
C:  ?
T:  Good.

Two hours later (about the time the game should be wrapping up).
C:  Where are you?
T:  We are going to the Nebeker's house.
C:  For what?
T:  To hang out with everyone from church.
C:  How long are you guys going to be there?
T:  Until 12 or 12:30 they said.
C:  Mom will pick you up at 11.
T:  Can you please let me go?
C:  Dude relax . . . you can go for a bit.  Mom will pick you up at 11:15.

First off, I am elated that Tino is even doing anything social.  Homeboy has been invited to two birthday parties in the past 2 years.  His social life consists of baseball practice and baseball tournaments or Young Men activities at church and Boy Scouts.  When it's not blazing hot outside, he can be seen (or heard) shooting hoops in our driveway.  He prefers to stay home.  So the fact that his buddies from church have been watching out for him at school (and now are trying to include him in their social activities) is HUGE.  I am just not ready for this.  He is 12 years old for another 11 days.  And then he will only be 13 years old.  That's still a huge difference between his church buddies who are 16, 16, and 18 years old. Yikes.

Any suggestions for the high school experience would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.