Just venting. Gotta get this off my chest.

[mike32312]

Ok you guys know me. This ain't no plea for cigars so don't send any. Just want to vent and hear you all say what a great Dad I am.

I currently sending my son to some reading academy to bring his reading level up. He's going into 9th grade and has a 7th grade reading level. Are they not teaching these kids in school anything. My son's not a dumb azz. He makes A,B,C's never any D's or F's. Even made the honor roll this year a couple of times. However he failed the reading portion of the FCAT and almost didn't get promoted. Thank God that didn't happen. Now I'm forking out $750.00 a month to try and bring his reading level up. Obviously there goes the cigar, booze, party, **** funds . I found myself today doing something I thought I'd never do. Went to Cbid and bid on alot of cheap smokes. Hope I win a few of them anyway. Back to the all starting position. Thank God this will only be for a couple of months hopefully. Well that's it, I feel better now. Just had to get this off my chest to the BOTL who can appreciate the sacrifices we make for our kids.

Of course there is that gleamer of hope I have on July 22nd. I qualified for a Million dollar tournament. If I win. Club Stogie will have the biggest herf it's ever seen on me.

Anyway thanks for the thread to vent. Love this place and it's brothers.

Oh yea..Cigar room still 95% completed. Go update you guess. the contest is still on.

[jcruz1027]

standardized testing sucks...IMHO

[ToddziLLa]

$750/month well spent Mike. Stogies can wait, get your kid an edumacation!

[mike32312]

Originally Posted by ToddziLLa

$750/month well spent Mike. Stogies can wait, get your kid an edumacation!

Yea, his ass better be speed reading when he's done. Give him the friggin bill and say READ THIS.

[Ermo]

Mike,
If it helps think of that $750 as an investment in your own sanity. It will pay itself off when your son gets into a good college and can live comfortably on his own and you dont have to hold his hand the rest of his life. A good cigar is smoked and gone, a good education will stay with your son forever. You are doing the right thing.

JMO

[Hammerhead]

Mike, do you know what the reasons are for your son's slow progress? It might have a pathological root cause, such as dislexia. It's more common that you might think.

If that's what it is, have you considered reaching out to the Scottish Rite Masons in your area? I know that our lodge hosts a school to improve reading skills for kids your son's age, and as far as I know, it's free of charge.

PM or Email me if you'd like to explore it more. Might really help out.

[mike32312]

Originally Posted by ebn2002

Mike,
If it helps think of that $750 as an investment in your own sanity. It will pay itself off when your son gets into a good college and can live comfortably on his own and you dont have to hold his hand the rest of his life. A good cigar is smoked and gone, a good education will stay with your son forever. You are doing the right thing.

JMO

Yep your right. He's a great athlete in football. I told him you can't play sports if you can't pass the classes. I know this will pay off in the long run. Just hurts right now. But hey he's good enough to get a scholarship so that will save the $$$ in the long run. He knows maybe he could even turn pro. Than his butt can buy me a walk in humidor or one like Da Klugs has.

He's 15yrs old, 6'1 190lbs right now. "I think his mom slept with a professional wrestler one night. "

[Corona Gigante]

Good job, Mike! That's the best investment you could make. Nothing we do for our children is ever wasted.

[mike32312]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

Mike, do you know what the reasons are for your son's slow progress? It might have a pathological root cause, such as dislexia. It's more common that you might think.

If that's what it is, have you considered reaching out to the Scottish Rite Masons in your area? I know that our lodge hosts a school to improve reading skills for kids your son's age, and as far as I know, it's free of charge.

PM or Email me if you'd like to explore it more. Might really help out.

Sweet, thanks for the info. I'll check into it. I know he missed alot of the basics when he was young due to having a brain tumor removed. He missed out on phonics teachings and stuff.

[7DIG7]

Hey Mike, sorry to hear your kid is having a little difficulty there. The money for his advancement is a good investment though. and...

It gives you an excuse to buy a bunch of those Cremosa's I know you love so much. I hear they're real cheap on CBid

http://www.cigarbid.com/auction/lot.cfm?lotID=359857

[SHOE]

Hang in there Mike, you'll never regret money spent like that and you're doing what you have to do to help your kid and I respect that. Some parents (and I know a bunch of them) don't give a crap.

Nobody knocking your for cheap smokes either. Hell, we all have 'em even if we don't admit it. You do what you have to do and if you're ever in real need, you're in the right place... WE GOT YOUR BACK!

[ky toker]

Mike, my parents had to pay for speach therapy for me and I still talk like a dumbass.

Seriously, hope everything works out (and I'm sure it will).

[vtdragon]

Mike, you will never regret any money spent to further your son's education. Don't even give it a second thought, you're doing the right thing and you might even find some cheap smokes you like.

[fitzsmoke]

My son (now 31 yrs. old) is a software engineer in the Bay Area. He couldn't read very well as a kid and took no pleasure from it. When he became interested in computers, I encouraged him as much as my limited ability could. Eventually he had to start reading tech. manuals to learn what he wanted in programming. It took him a while to become a good reader and by the time he was starting college he could sit down and read a tech. manual in about two days time. (maybe 300 pages)

I guess my point is that some kids are naturally good in math and tech. stuff, some gravitate toward the verbal and artistic side of the brain. I have a cousin who could write at about the third grade level (in college) and went on to become a very competent civil engineer. He had to have tutoring in college for the english and writing.

Anyway, hang in there Dad, you are doing the right thing. He may always struggle with the reading / verbal side, it seems to be the curse of many excellent engineer / math. types.

[mike32312]

Originally Posted by 7DIG7

Hey Mike, sorry to hear your kid is having a little difficulty there. The money for his advancement is a good investment though. and...

It gives you an excuse to buy a bunch of those Cremosa's I know you love so much. I hear they're real cheap on CBid

http://www.cigarbid.com/auction/lot.cfm?lotID=359857

I'll smoke swisher sweets and tampa nuggets before I'll put a Creamosa to my lips. Never that bad.