She says, ‘A boy doesn’t need education’’
Dear Gwendolyn:
I was married to a man who was ruled by his mother. At the time of my divorce, our son was only six years old. He is now 16 and has been spending the summers with his dad for the past four years. Before we married, I never met his mother. If I had, that is one marriage that would have never taken place.
This is the problem: I am having a difficult time trying to keep my son in school. He just got out of juvenile. Apparently, instead of going to school he had been hanging out with other boys who were stealing cars. When I try to converse with him, he yells at me saying things like, “Grandma said I don’t need education.” I have worked hard to give him the best of clothes and purchased electronic toys when other children didn’t have them.
Gwendolyn, what can I do? This is truly not a time in life to be uneducated. Things are difficult enough for a Black man. I do want my son to excel. Jennie
Dear Jennie:
Then keep him away from his grandma! Your ex-husband’s mother must be quite senior in age. She is still in the time period where mothers did feel their sons didn’t need education. As a child, I would hear old ladies make the remark, “My boys can always find a job digging a ditch.” Oh well, that was quite some time ago. Ditches are dug now using heavy equipment that includes an attached computer or computer chip. Let me tell you this: There are no jobs in the workplace for the unskilled of any race.
Continue to let your son know he must get a good education without nagging him. He is in the age range of doing the opposite of your requests. Help him to understand that to succeed, it is imperative he change his associates. Inquire if he has a career goal? His problem may be he has a goal, but has never shared it with anyone.
Jennie, as his mom, you cannot allow him to be as Little Red Riding Hood — grandma’s house is off-limits.
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