Problem: Article: about the problem. If you got a bad grade on a test or on your report card, be upfront about the problem right away. This can help you avoid punishment. Your parents want you to be successful in school. If you tell them that you're honestly struggling, they'll be more likely to want to look for a solution than try to punish you. You may know your parents will find out about your grades soon. You may be getting a progress report, for example, or parent-teacher conferences may be coming up. If this is the case, give your parents a warning ahead of time. Say something like, "Mom, Dad, I wanted to be honest with you. I'm really struggling in algebra and my semester grade isn't what it should be." When telling your parents about your grades, pick a good time to talk. Choose a time when your parents are free and there are no external time constraints. A Wednesday night when everyone's done with work and school, for example, is a great time to bring up the issue of your grades. Honesty is the best policy here. Tell your parents that you're struggling in a certain subject. If you know your exact grade, tell them. Do not try to obscure the truth. For example, if you're getting a D in chemistry, do not say, "My chemistry grade is kind of on the low side." Instead, say something like, "I'm getting a D in chemistry and I thought I should let you know." If you got a poor grade, there may be a reason for this. It may be that you were legitimately struggling, in which case your parents are unlikely to respond with punishment. However, even if your poor grade was due to irresponsibility on your part, confessing to your negligence may help evade punishment. The point of punishment is to teach responsibility. If you already understand your mistake, and want to do better, your parents may not feel the need to punish you. If you're genuinely struggling, say so. Also, highlight how you did genuinely try in a course. For example, you may simply not be doing well in algebra. Point out how often you study and how you always do your homework. Your parents will see you're trying, and may respond by trying to get you a tutor rather than punishing you. If you slipped up, however, admit it outright. Ultimately, your parents want to see you learn from your mistakes so you do not repeat them. If your D on a test is because you stayed up too late playing video games, admit this and promise to do better in the future. If you've already learned your lesson, your parents may not feel the need to punish you. If you're already willing to make the effort to change, your parents will be less likely to punish you. Offer to talk to your teacher in order to prevent your grades from slipping further. Remember, you want to make your parents feel like punishment would not be helpful at this point. Promising to speak to your teacher shows that you're handling the situation with maturity and already taking steps to change. It would be unnecessary to put more pressure on you at this point. The more maturity you show, the better. If you go into a conversation angry, expecting your parents to be mad, you're creating a problem. However, if you go into a conversation eager to find a solution, you'll be able to smooth things over and evade punishment. Your parents are invested in seeing you succeed. Ask them to help you work on your grades. Be as mature about things as you can. A little flattery can also help. For example, say something like, "I know I screwed up, and you and Mom raised me better. You guys are super responsible. Maybe you can teach me how to do better." Offer to go along with whatever your parents want in the future. For example, your parents may request that you show them your homework when you finish it. They also may want to meet with your teacher regularly. While these regulations may feel stressful or embarrassing, go along with them. If you're cooperative about fixing the problem, you'll avoid getting punished. It's normal for your parents to be upset or frustrated over a bad report card. However, an extreme response can constitute abuse. If you're in an abusive situation at home, it's important you recognize abuse so you can seek help. Physical abuse involves a parent beating, kicking, hitting, or otherwise hurting you. Your parents may feel physical abuse is a normal or appropriate response to what they perceive as bad behavior. They may believe in a "tough love" route to discipline. Understand that physical violence is never okay. It is not normal and it is not something all parents do. If you are being physically harmed, this constitutes abuse. Abuse can also be verbal or emotional. All parents lose their tempter at some point, and may yell on occasion if frustrated. However, if yelling becomes very loud, and is coupled by foul language, name calling, or threats, this is emotional abuse. Your parent, for example, may threaten to kick you out or abandon you when you present a poor report card. Emotional abuse is not normal and can be very damaging to your self-image.
Summary: Be upfront Explain why your grades are slipping. Offer to talk to your teacher. Ask for help working towards a solution. Recognize an abusive response.

Problem: Article: Washing the scallions before freezing them is especially important if they're fresh from your garden. Fill a large bowl with the water and vinegar and place the scallions in it. Let them soak for a few minutes before you rinse them off in the sink. That way they'll be ready to use when you take them out of the freezer. Lay the scallions flat on a cutting board and cut off the roots with a sharp knife. The roots are the white parts at the ends of the stalks. Then, bring the knife from one end of the stalks to the other, making swift cuts through the scallions every .25 inches (0.64cm) or so. Use a baking sheet that can fit in your freezer. Line it with parchment paper so the scallions don't stick to the metal. Freezing the scallions on a baking sheet first will prevent them from clumping together in the freezer. After 3 hours, remove the baking sheet. It's OK if they're not completely frozen yet. Open the bag and use a spatula to slide the scallion pieces off the baking sheet and into the bag. Once all the scallions are in the bag, use your hands to press excess air out from the bag and then seal it. Write the date on the plastic bag so you know how long the scallions have been frozen for. If you don't have a sealable freezer bag, put the scallions in an empty water bottle with the cap on instead. Frozen scallions lose their crunchy texture, so avoid putting them on salads or other recipes without cooking them first. To use your frozen scallions, simply remove them from the freezer bag and add them to the dish you're cooking. Frozen scallions can last up to a year in the freezer.
Summary:
Soak the scallions in 5 parts water and 1 part white vinegar, then rinse. Chop the scallions into small pieces. Spread the chopped scallions on a small, lined baking sheet. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for 3 hours. Transfer the scallions into a sealable freezer bag. Freeze the scallions until you're ready to cook with them.