SLAM!
Me Thinking: Chickie's home from school.
Chickie Mom! I'm home!
Me Thinking: I was right.
THE BAD NEWS
She has Saturday School. Why? Well, it seems that she didn't finish some of her in-class assignments like she was supposed to. Her version was that she didn't have time to finish them during class, and then she "completely forgot all about them." Now she has to make them up this Saturday. The kid finally is on track with homework without me having to sit on her head, and now we have this?
THE QUESTION
Chickie: Do I have to go?
Me: Yes.
Chickie: Why? It doesn't bring my grade down at all and I'm already making an "A."
Me: That's not the point.
Chickie: Yes it is! It's not going to do anything to my grade!
Me: Will you forget to do an assignment again?
Chickie: No.
Me: Then that's the point (I could have elaborated here, but I would have been met with a blank stare, and the "blah, blah, blah, blah" glazed look kids get when they know you aren't going to bend an inch).
But it didn't keep her from trying.
THE GOOD NEWS
Chickie: I have some good news that will change your mind!
Me: I doubt it.
Chickie: MOOOOM!
Me: I would love to hear your good news.
Chickie: Well, you and Dad are invited to an Achievement Breakfast, in which I am one of the kids that were picked!
Side Note: They hold these two times a year. There is one child picked in each subject that has shown remarkable Academic Achievement (those were not my words, I copied them from the letter). I was thrilled she was chosen again, but still....
Me: Fantastic honey! I'm very proud of you.
Chickie: See, I told you! Now, do I still have to go (waggling eyebrows)?
Me: Yes (waggling eyebrows).
Chickie: MOOOOM! It's not funny! This is MY life we are talking about It should be up to ME!
Me: Am I laughing? When you are out of school, and have a job, and pay the bills, you can make your own decisions.
Chickie: Fine! You always make me do stuff that nobody else's parent's make them do! Miss A's parents never, ever make her go to Saturday school!
Me: Do I look like "Miss A's Parents?"
Chickie: I wish you weren't my mother! (storms out of office and SLAMS! her bedroom door).
Me Thinking: Well that went well.
Sometimes, it's so very hard to do what's right.
Comments
WITCH!
And... how come your "thing" never remembers my info even though I tell it to EVERY time? Humpf!
By the way... my kids have hated me about a million times!
Posted by: Melli at April 10, 2007 9:57 PM
Seems to me you handled that one just fine. I especially like how you validated and affirmed her eyebrow waggling.
Some day she'll thank-- well no, she probably won't thank you. But it was still the Right Thing To Do, and right Matters, and you did The Right Thing.
As will she, on Saturday. :-)
Posted by: Radioactive Jam at April 11, 2007 7:44 AM
Of course you did what's right!!!! And don't fret ---I guess you're now Mrs. "X" since she doesn't want you as her mother and Mrs. "A" already has a kid ---anyway, in all seriousness dear Moogie, [or is it Mutti?] ----YOU DID GOOD!!! All Saturday while she is attending, she will have time to reflect and time to realize she has a GOOD mom that's doing what's best for her in years to come---whether it does anything to a grade or not. Grades aren't that important ------------it's life's lessons that count!!!!
Posted by: Hootin' Anni at April 11, 2007 7:49 AM
Oh Moogz! You did great! Consistency is so important with 'themmmmmmm'. I had to take a course to help me deal with them and not give in. Keep up the good job Mom!
Hugz,
Karma
Posted by: Karma at April 11, 2007 12:03 PM
doing the right thing IS hard, but no one said being a parent was supposed to be easy. Going to school on Saturday will cement the lesson in her head that she can't shirk her in-class assignments.
Posted by: bob at April 11, 2007 1:59 PM
P.S. you're doing a great job!
Posted by: bob at April 11, 2007 2:01 PM
Ah, but you DID do what was right. You can feel proud of that.
Posted by: Heather at April 11, 2007 10:39 PM
One day, you may get a thank you for this or maybe not.
Chickie has proven the "cause and effect rule" and the "reaction rule"
For every cause of an action there has to be something there to effect that reaction.
or for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.
cause: missed assignment
effect: MORE School on a SATURDAY (evil)...
action: no time to do assignment (apprently)
re-action: time to do assignment found...
It's just physics dearest chickie it's just physics.
Posted by: Gopher at April 12, 2007 2:54 PM
