Whats better than being recognized for your achievements, struggles and wins? Your kids being recognized for their achievements, struggles and wins. Okoye had open house at his new high school, you know, giving the parents a chance to meet teachers, go over plans, become familiar with the school. I talked to the teachers and was pretty happy with what I heard. One teacher already recognized that he was going to be the social one in the bunch but if he could reign that in, Okoye would be an asset to the class. His Spanish II teacher commented on his can-do attitude and his willingness to ask for help or to repeat things if he didn’t catch it the first time. So…we are walking out of the school and there is a table of cake, punch, hot wings, things like that with a group of adults kind of hanging around. As we walk by one of the men call out to us to get some cake, punch whatever and I say ‘no thanks’. One man (who is holding a baby) jumps up and says ‘Mr. Washington! Is this your mother??’

I immediately I’m on guard….

Okoye says yes but I say, ‘that depends on what he’s done’

He comes over, shakes my hand and said that Okoye was a really good kid. That he helps on in the cafeteria. That even though school had been in session not even a week, he had gotten two reports from teachers about how he helps out without even being asked. And that he really appreciated what he does. I said thank you and we chitchatted for a minute longer and left. As we were walking out I mentioned what a nice man he was and I asked was he one of his teachers and Okoye said no, that he was the principal. Talk about feeling stupid. But still proud.

Do I tell him about wet vacing up the poop?

or about the sneaking out last year?

or about the fight he had at school?

or how moody he can be and then flip the switch on you at the drop of a dime?

or

or

or

*sigh*