Passnownow

Rated 4.8/5 by parents & students

How To Tell Your Parents That Your Grades Are Not What They Expected

Examinations are long gone. While some of you are yet to receive your results, some of you have. Do you fear showing it to your parents, especially if you did not do really well? For those of you who have parents that pressure them to get perfect grades. How can you explain your result to them? And what assurances can you give them for the next term to pacify them?
Let’s consider some.
 
1. Have the Right Attitude
First, do not see pressure and high expectations from your parents in your academic pursuits as a bad thing. In fact, some parental pressure and guidance can be helpful, but when parents have unrealistic expectations (considering your strengths and limitations), it can be really distressing, and can leave you feeling deflated and asking  “What’s the point?”
 
But don’t give up just yet. Consider some of these steps
 
2. Talk to Your Parents
 
Talk, but don’t argue that your grade is above average, or that you did better than most students. Your parents don’t want you to be “most” students, if they could have their way, they would want you to be the “best” student. So, try to see things from their perspective. In many schools, more kids get A’s and B’s than D’s and F’s, so C may not be the norm.
 
Besides, why be ordinary if you can be extraordinary? Instead, tell them you wish they would recognize how hard you work and that when your report card never seems to be good enough, it eats at your confidence. Let them know a little praise would go a long way.
3. Acknowledge the Big Picture

You parents will want to know that you understand the seriousness of bad grades. After all, secondary school is the doorway to adulthood, so your parents will want to know that you do understand what is at stake.

Understand that this is a time when you are laying the foundation for a successful future and communicate that view in your conversation with your parents.

4. Acknowledge Your Mistakes

Remember that everybody makes mistakes (including parents). The good news is that you can learn from your mistakes. Before you speak with your parents, make an effort to understand what went wrong in the first place. Take some time to figure out why the bad grade happened (and be honest about this).

Were you overloaded this year? Did you take on too much? Maybe you had a problem with priorities or time management. Make a real effort to get to the root of your problem, then think of ways to make the situation better.

5. Be Prepared

Write your conclusions and plans on a piece of paper and take it with you when you have that conversation with your parents.

6. Talk About Your Possible Ideas

Are you willing to go for tutorials, or extra lessons? Should drop sports next year? Think about the steps you can take and be ready to discuss them. Your goal is to show your parents that you are willing to take ownership. Admit you messed up. or that you have a problem—if you did—and let your parents know that you have a plan to avoid making the same mistake in the future.

By taking ownership, you are showing a sign of growing up, and your parents will be happy to see it.

7. Be a Grownup, Not a Child

Even if you go in with a plan, you must be willing to receive other suggestions. Don’t go into the meeting with the attitude that you have all the answers.  Another common trick that parents see through: don’t use drama to try to manipulate the situation. Don’t cry and exaggerate your guilt to generate some sympathy. Sound familiar?

We all do things like this as we test our boundaries. The point here is, it’s time to move on and learn. Be prepared to receive news you don’t like. Your parents’ idea of a solution may be different from your own. Be flexible and cooperative.

You can recover from any situation if you are willing to learn and to make the necessary changes. Make a plan and follow it!

 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top