<p>I just found out something ridiculous and scary today.
This is happening in our lives, this is not a newspaper piece.
A mother of son’s classmate threw a party last year after my son, a very strong student, got a B at the end of a quarter. Son found out about it today - he is attending a competition and is rooming with a boy whose parent’s attended that party! She was celebrating as apparently that B has opened up a door for her daughter to be a valedictorian 
Can it get any sicker than that?</p>
<p>If that’s her excuse for throwing a party then I really feel sorry for her social life. Let her have it.</p>
<p>Even more disgusting are people who would attend a party held for that reason.</p>
<p>Maybe they didn’t know until they arrived at the party.</p>
<p>D2 is graduating as Sal, maybe we should tried to distract the Val…could have, should have.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about that. Yes, parents will stoop very low. A parent of my son’s teammate would promise gifts if he beat my son in a race. Pathetic.</p>
<p>Open bar?
Seriously, I wouldn’t necessarily believe gossip from some kid. Plus, who cares? It really has nothing to do with your son and his accomplishments. If it’s really scary you can always switch to a school with sane parents.</p>
<p>I don’t think she told the people the reason for a party - it probably (let’s hope) transpired during the event.</p>
<p>Kel,
Look at it this way. That party could not have been fun because the “Honorary Boy” was not present. 
</p>
<p>I am sure your son will take the high road on this. Use this as a teaching moment to him that there are some insane people out there. {{{ }}}s to you guys…</p>
<p>Yes, it’s creepy when parents get involved in kids’ competitions, but I’d question anything I heard passed on through someone else’s kid–especially a year after the fact. There could’ve been other reasons for the party–maybe they like to get together with friends and drink? I’d wonder if the kid was joking or repeating something his parents said they heard at the party, which also may have been a joke or taken out of context. (And they were probably drunk anyway, so not reliable witnesses. ;))</p>
<p>True or not, there’s not much you can do with this info. now–besides saying “WTH?” to yourself. You already know to avoid these types. I’d forget about it.</p>
<p>No reason not to believe the guy, he is older - not a classmate, how would he otherwise know about the grades?, his and the girl’s parents are from the same ethnic group - looks credible that they met at that party. And he told my son that she (mom) was “so happy she threw a party”.
I am not going to loose sleep over this, seems though like something you would read about in a paper…
As far as avoiding the people - I don’t even know them.</p>
<p>it’s all perspective and how you tell the story . . .</p>
<p>From your angle, the parent was celebrating your son’s getting a “B”(i.e. dropping in rank because of the lower grade). From her perspective, the mother was celebrating her child becoming Valedictorian. Whether it happened because your S unfortunately earned a “B,” and dropped a spot in class rank is not her fault or anyone’s for that matter. Fact is, her child is now Val and if that is indeed the case, then she has the right to celebrate that if she wants to. </p>
<p>If she sent out invites to the party stating, “so & so got a “B” and it’s time to party,” well then, that’s a different story OR If perhaps she was mingling at the actual party and was overheard stating that she was glad or happy your son got a “B,” then that is indeed classless. Sounds like there’s alot of heresay going on . . .</p>
<p>I love giving parties. I’d give one for a B. Why not?</p>
<p>DowneasterDAd - she was heard saying she threw a party because of my son’s B!
How much lower than that can you get?</p>
<p>Don’t worry. I know of many better outcomes for Sal’s than Val’s. A B builds character. You should throw a party for your son’s B. Welcome to the world of the imperfect human race son. And we love that you’re not perfect, and we love you.</p>
<p>I feel sorry for that strange woman’s D. Imagine the burden of having to be perfect!!! I am sure your very accomplished son is a wonderful person.</p>
<p>At one graduation I attended the Val made such an awful speech that people are still laughing at her. The entire text related the tale of her longing to be the Val for all her life and how wonderful it was that she achieved it. There was not one word about her classmates or going forward in life. </p>
<p>Narcissism is not attractive.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it anymore. Hugs to your son.</p>
<p>Did she throw a party for her D being Val? And, then it came out at the party that the D only became Val because of this lone B? </p>
<p>I can’t imagine accepting a party invite and the stated reason for the party was “My D is Val because John Doe got a B on his report card.” It seems like the “cause” for her D’s Val status came out at the party…and the mom (rudely) mentioned that she was so happy that she threw the party.</p>
<p>As a student, I can tell you that one B will make you do better (: Be proud of your son!</p>
<p>Not scary, but ridiculous. I would not waste time tracking down that story. Could have been a sarcastic comment. Hard to believe that someone would throw an adult party to celebrate something like that and people come? It makes no sense. </p>
<p>But parents have made remarks like that, sometimes not just in jest, like “I’m celebrating when that kid doesn’t win the race, for once”. Unfortunate remark even in jest. You hear these things 3rd hand and they take on a life of their own. Just let it go and don’t let it fester.</p>
<p>I think downeaster got it right. If she did announce it as celebrating your son’s B, rather than her child’s accomplishment, it is because she is petty and jealous. Tell your son that and that he needs to move on. Hopefully he did what he needs to to get the Val back. If not, it’s hardly the end of the road. Karma is a bitxh because in the end she will be the one who looks bad, not you or your son.</p>
<p>I do confess though…as the year’s have gone by and certain people’s kids have gotten more playing time etc , I secretly wished they would get a cold, or have a slump, or something so my kid could get the chance to show his stuff. As it turns out, those slumps came along and my son shined and earned his spot. Year later he was the one playing and they had quit. What I’m saying is that sometimes those in second best do sort of wish something would happen so they can be in first…because in their mind they deserve it, and yes there is jealousy involved…I think jealousy and competition are related. She was jealous and it showed.</p>
<p>By the way, I never threw a party when another kid messed up!</p>
<p>I’m trying to follow the timeline here. She threw the party last year (according to the son of someone whose parents attended) because the daughter had the possibility of becoming valedictorian due to the B earned by the OP’s son. Are both students now seniors? Has the val been announced? </p>
<p>I’m not sure there’s enough evidence here that she did indeed throw the party to celebrate someone else’s misstep (if a B can be considered a misstep). If she heard about the OP’s son’s B and said, “Great - I’m so thrilled that his val status is in question I’m gonna give a party!” then yes, I’d say she’s a complete @#$%^. But the son of parents who attended told the OP’s son that the woman was “so happy she threw a party.” That’s not enough for a conviction, in my eyes. Maybe she made a snarky comment at the party in a failed attempt to be humorous. Maybe the acquaintance, or his parents, drew that conclusion himself. </p>
<p>Just my perspective, but it’s easier to believe that the party was planned for a reason that pre-dated the son’s B. There are people who are delighted when other people’s kids hit a pothole, and the party-thrower is one. Not classy, but not quite the same thing as throwing a party for that reason. If she did indeed do so, I’d find that scary myself.</p>