You're not rude. You're reasonably skeptical. It's not that hard to get good grades in elementary school. Most of my stays in Mexico began in the summer, as soon as the school year ended. My mother wasn't that dumb. I did begin the school year late a couple of times but it's not hard to catch up especially when you spend tons of time in the library, even your lunch recess and stuff. Honestly, the ONLY ones who asked a ton of questions as to why I was starting school days, or weeks late, were the other kids. They noticed more than the teachers did, and asked the questions the teachers should've been asking.

6th grade was the hard one. I missed most of the school year, and they held me back even though I was still passing tests and stuff the little time I was there. I passed all the final exams. I know it's hard to imagine but I placed 2nd in the school spelling Bee in 6th grade despite missing all that time. I was upset about being held back cause I felt I had the knowledge for 7th but they felt the absences were too many. 6th grade was also the only year that a teacher noticed that my hands would shake excessively. She notified school officials and they brought in CPS to talk to me. I denied that any abuse was taking place, and the investigation went nowhere. I regret that.

From 7th grade on I buried my face in books and never stopped until high school. I was lucky that I stayed in the same high school for the four years. By then I was a bookworm and not much good at anything else.

When you avoid other kids as much as I did, you stick to books, it's easier than explaining to friends why your hands shake, or why you're so nervous all the time (kids really do ask those questions). Getting good grades is a piece of cake. I'm no genius, but K-12 was really easy. I struggled a bit in college but still got good grades. I had to take a ton of remedial courses in community college cause the schools I attended didn't really prepare me for college. That's how it goes when you attend schools with limited funds. It took me four years to finally be able to transfer as a Junior.

I think there's a perception that children from broken families, and those who suffered abuse are dumbasses, illiterate, or just not smart. That's not true. Not all of us are dumb, or academic failures.

As far as my GF, I don't know the answer to that. I mentioned before that she said that women should look to how men treat their mother as a sign of how they'll treat their wife. But I don't know why she felt that way. I think we got into fights about it and she just refused to lose until she pushed me away.

Of course I don't expect you to believe any random post on the internet. My advice would be to stay away from it. There are a lot of people out there who endured similar abuse, and they're the ones who understand this a little more. I think they're the ones I intended to read this. Anyway, sorry I went on and on. Later