Low marks happen to everyone, at any point in their life. While a lot of people take it with a pinch of salt and look to move forward, many children tend to lie to their parents about their grades. In extreme cases, children also hack into the system to change their grades to higher ones. All of this to avoid negative confrontation with parents.
Telling your parents, you received a B when your grade report shows a D—or changing the minus sign at the top of your paper to a plus sign—may not warrant an FBI investigation, but it’s an issue of integrity. Consider how much trouble you’ll be in if your parents discover that not only did you receive low marks, but you also lied about it.
There are many better and healthier ways to talk to parents about marks.
HOW TO PRESENT YOUR LOW MARKS
Get it over with as soon as possible
Have you ever heard the expression “you’re going to worry yourself sick?” There’s truth to it. Hormones related to stress can cause upset stomach, and difficulty concentrating, among other serious symptoms. So, it’s best to confront the stress-causing agent as soon as possible. The sooner you do it, the sooner you can enjoy that sweet, sweet relief.
In sum, telling your parents about your bad grade tonight is going to feel a lot better than carrying that weight on shoulders until tomorrow or next week.
Imagine the worst possible outcome
When you tell your parents about your bad grade, what’s the worst thing that could happen? They could yell at you, ground you, connect you with a tutor, schedule a parent-teacher conference… The wrath of your parents probably isn’t as bad as it initially seemed.
However, if you expect a very violent and harmful reaction, contact authorities immediately.
Expect some kind of disappointment
Good parents want their children to be happy, to challenge themselves, to learn and grow, and when you present them with a bad grade, it’s natural for them to be concerned. For instance, you might lose privileges at home, you might receive a lecture about not wasting tuition money, or you might have to see a tutor when you’d rather be hanging out with your friends. You don’t have to put up with these reactions all the time. However, negotiating with parents after a few hours have passed will result in a more fruitful conversation.
Reactions that are violent, aggressive, or humiliating, however, are not normal. You should never have to endure a beating, listen to verbal abuse, or suffer any other cruel punishment. If you’re afraid to tell your parents about a bad grade because it’s possible they’ll hurt you, please talk to a teacher, counselor, or other trusted adult as soon as possible.
Show remorse
A student generally hides a bad report card behind his back.
Maybe your parents are so chill that you could hang your bad grade on the fridge and complain about your teacher to make them laugh. Most parents will want their kids to understand the gravity of the situation.
When you talk to your parents about your grade, be serious, and avoid making a joke or snarky comment about the situation. Let your parents know that you’re upset—or at least, you aren’t pleased. Even if you’ll have the opportunity to recover your GPA or get extra credit points later, showing remorse about your bad grade proves that you know the importance of hard work.
Promise to work harder next time
Difficult conversations with your parents end better if you can provide a plan for improvement. It’s not enough to say you’ll do better next time. How are you going to improve? Maybe you’ll head to after-school tutoring, or change subjects that you are forcing yourself to study because of some reasons.
Look for newer ways of motivation, use an agenda to remember your homework or switch into a lower-level class. Approach your parents with a concrete plan for improvement—and while you’re at it, avoid placing the blame on a “bad” teacher—and your parents will notice your self-motivation, accountability, and drive.
After everything, they are your parents. In most cases, there is a solid foundation of understanding between a parent and a child. That being said, low marks are definitely a learning lesson. You know the value of working had, and you should faith in your scope to improve. You’re working to be the best version of yourself, and one day, you’ll surely get there!
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