Grant and Abbie have both had a rough week. Grant has grappled with the lack of consistent routine due to what I shall term Snowless Days. The school has closed twice this week for dangerously low temperatures. Today it was in session, and the temperature was 5 degrees. Good sense? You be the judge. Abbie, on the other hand, is failing miserably with personal responsibility and organization and it is finally getting so bad that Husband is wanting to make it a punishable offense.
This morning, Grant burst into angry, whiny tears because I didn't give any attention to the pre-tears whining he was directing at me over having to hold the sleeve of his fleece while putting on his coat. I ignored those, too, until he resorted to slamming doors and pushing into people (next progression on his journey to explosion). Here is what I said when we got in the car:
"Grant, unfortunately for you, I can tell the difference between someone who is upset but is trying not to be, and someone who is secretly enjoying it, and trying to make other people get angry so he has another reason to pitch a fit. You, right now, are trying to make us angry because you feel like crying and you would like a reason to do it. But it is a school day. You do not have time for this. What we are doing right now is getting ready for school. That is Abbie's job; that is your job. You don't have to like it. What you think about getting ready does not matter. It needs to get done. If you still feel this way when we get to school, then I can take you into the office to calm down. There is no reason to make everyone have a bad day just because you aren't willing to control yourself."
Then, when we got to school, I casually mentioned that if Grant didn't have a terrible day, we might go to Buffalo Wild Wings tonight.
"Grant?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't have a terrible day." *wink*
*Smile*
Hope it works.
*** Yep. Just got a call from the school. Not about Grant, though.
So. Abbie's teacher called me because of a note I sent to school with Abbie this morning. Or so I thought. Abbie had been doing such things as forgetting her lunchbox at school, then losing the bag lunch we send the next day, and then buy lunch without asking, and not tell us (forgot). Twice now, this entire scenario has taken place. And she forgot her lunch box again. I wrote a note to the teacher saying that if Abbie forgets her lunch, she has to go to the office and call us before she may purchase a school lunch. (Not a punishment. I just would like to know when I owe money, hey?)
The teacher was actually calling about a message I left her a week ago because Grant's report card came home....but Abbie's, not. Apparently she forgot it on her desk. No one has seen it since, including the teacher. The note I actually sent to the teacher.....didn't make it to her. Who is surprised?
We talked. Organization and personal responsibility are going to be encouraged at school AND home. Also, Abbie's teacher said that this sort of inattention was a typical side effect of her being, "so brilliant." My, but I do like that lady! >_<
(And to tell you the truth, I was starting to wonder if maybe she wasn't that bright, and I was only insisting she was out of fondness...)
Wish I could get this level of cooperation from Grant's teacher.
I must go to work now. Wishing you all a day of emotional calm and acceptance. And good health.
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