Entrance Exams For Middle Schools

Mr. Curmudgeon Parenting, Rants

Despite being just a decade old, the Mini-Yin took his first entrance exam this morning. Our school district has magnet schools that require prospective students to apply. Each application necessitates teacher recommendations, the release of state-wide standardized tests, a transcript, and an on-site exam. One school even mandates a take-home essay.

At age ten, my biggest school concern revolved around the events for track and field day. Applying to a school would be seven years away. I just attended the middle and high schools that the other kids in my neighborhood attended. Life seemed simpler.

I Hate My Son’s Music

Mr. Curmudgeon Parenting

The Mini-Yin is only a decade old, but his music choices already suck. I guess almost every parent marvels at how the cacophony emanating from their children’s rooms can be considered music. The Mini-Yin mostly indulges in video game soundtracks. It’s like having electronica looped endlessly.

Unlike the days of tapes, CDs, or even mp3 players, today kids merely request the songs they want from a smart speaker. There’s no media to deal with. They essentially have an infinite jukebox at their disposal—though I’m sure they’ve never operated nor even seen a jukebox. In case you’re too young to know what one looks like, here it is:

Given the world’s knowledge at his fingertips, the Mini-Yin elects to watch YouTube videos about memes. Afforded the world’s largest collection of music, he chooses the creations of someone named SharaX.

Screen Time: The Ultimate Currency

Mr. Curmudgeon Parenting

Screen time is the most valuable currency at my disposal for motivating the Mini-Yin. I dangle the screen time carrot for excellent grades, good behavior, or even chores. Screen time’s value eclipses anything else I can offer. That includes cold hard cash.

We have a number of arrangements for extra screen time. They include activities that raise his heartbeat like walking, biking, situps, and pushups. The screen time carrot is exceptionally effective in getting homework and dinner-time chores completed with minimal complaints. I hope to have another powerful lever to wield as screen time’s value decreases.

End-of-Year Donations

Mr. Curmudgeon Parenting

This year, we allowed the Mini-Yin to direct a portion of the family’s charitable donations. He chose Austin Pets Alive!, Doctors Without Borders, and Adblock Plus. That last one is somewhat dubious, but the Mini-Yin insists that they block a lot of ads on his Chromebook. He wanted to reward them for their efforts.

For at least a few minutes today, the Mini-Yin thought of other people (and animals) and their welfare. That’s heartwarming and a parenting win. He earns a pass for a future transgression.

Asian F

Mr. Curmudgeon Parenting

According to Mrs. Principled Curmudgeon and the Mini-Yin, I am a tiger dad. Instead of fighting the moniker, I have owned it. Not only do I demand excellent grades, but I also send the Mini-Yin to Mandarin immersion classes twice a week—including Saturdays. I’ve clearly earned my stripes.

When it comes to grades in our household, it’s understood that an Asian F is unacceptable. We also subscribe to the second definition of Asian F, which is an A-. Why would anyone accept anything below an A?

Like Father Like Son

Mr. Curmudgeon Parenting

For Christmas, the Mini-Yin received the same Jansport backpack model I sported over 30 years ago. This would have been an unlikely coincidence had I not added the backpack to his holiday gift list. Seeing the backpack hanging in his closet evokes acute nostalgia for my high school years.

His current backpack has held up well all throughout elementary school (K-5th). The new one will likely take him all the way through high school. I will credit Mrs. Principled Curmudgeon with steering me towards (initially) spending more for quality items. In the long run, buying quality ends up costing less. That’s math I can get behind.