A couple weeks ago Adventure Boy came home all exceited and happy.  His band director had invited him to join the jazz band as a bass guitarist.

He's going to be the next Geddy Lee, you know.  Bought himself a guitar, taught himself how to play, practices every day.

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach, as I realized that I was going to have to say "no".

Adventure Boy has a B- average.  Barely.

He's a Freshman, and he is working hard, but he's just not settled in to the High School academic pace yet.  He's taking accellerated classes, and he was in the Winter play, and now he's in the spring play, he's playing tuba in the band and Chamber Winds, he hangs out with his friends a lot playing D and D, doing martial arts, playing basketball, etc.

He's even hoofed it down to the Caribou for a little hanging-out-and-studying-with-the-gang.

He's busy is what I'm saying, and he's treading the soothing waters of average while throwing himself into the whole teenager gig with gusto and positivity.

And that's great and all - but I saw one more activity as the death-knell of his academics.  I don't have real high standards when it comes to grades, but this is a kid who COULD get straight "As".  And as far as I'm concerned, if he doesn't have a "B" average, he's not making the cut.

Add two hours of jazz band practice per week, and the performance schedule they have...and I can even kiss a "B-" average goodbye.

Not cool.

So I said "no".  I explained that extra-curricular activities were "EXTRA-curricular", and that his curricular activities had to come first.  If this opportunity arose again later, when he had a solid "B" average, I would say "Yes", but until that happened, he would need that time to focus on his studies.

He looked crushed, but he nodded and said he understood.

And I went upstairs to do dishes, because I figured that if I had to feel like a puppy-kicking monster at least I could also be productive.

Now, lo and behold, the drama club is doing "As you like it" and Adventure Boy has a small role (William, a country fellow), and the director asked if there was anyone who could play an instrument in the play...just be a sort of roving minstral wandering through the scene.

Adventure Boy is going to get to play his guitar after all.