Henry got in trouble at school on Tuesday for talking.
It's a common issue for Henry.
We're working on at least lowering his volume.
He had to do laps around the building during recess to make up for his chattiness.
He told me that he had to do two laps around, but it was such good "extercise" that he went ahead and did three laps!
He looooves being healthy!!
I wonder if his teachers have realized that they have a "let's turn these lemons into lemonade" kind of naughty boy on their hands.
It's a good quality, but not when you are trying to make him see the error of his ways!
It's a common issue for Henry.
We're working on at least lowering his volume.
He had to do laps around the building during recess to make up for his chattiness.
He told me that he had to do two laps around, but it was such good "extercise" that he went ahead and did three laps!
He looooves being healthy!!
I wonder if his teachers have realized that they have a "let's turn these lemons into lemonade" kind of naughty boy on their hands.
It's a good quality, but not when you are trying to make him see the error of his ways!
* * * * *
Last weekend, Henry got in trouble.
I banished him to the backyard to pick up dog poop.
After about 15 minutes he came in excited because he had found maggots in a pile of poo.
That is incredibly disgusting in itself, but I don't even want to think of just how long he probably spent staring at the poop and, knowing him, poking at it.
I'd like to say that poop duty is generally a horrible, "I totally learned my lesson" kind of punishment, but he actually doesn't really mind doing it.
At the most, it's a nuisance for him to have to stop what he's doing to go outside, but I like the punishments that I benefit from, so outside he goes!
Once I found out that my punishment turned into such an exciting, disgusting reward, I banned him from going outside.
Awhile later he said, "Um, I'm just going to go outside and see if there is any poop that I missed. I think there is some still out there."
Um, no!
Later on I heard, him trying to convince Josh to go outside to pick up poop because they might be able to find some more maggots!
He is so gross and apparently so is our yard!
* * * * *
Henry got in trouble another day this week--yes that's twice within the first week.
There was some pushing and name calling involved.
First I tackled the pushing.
He owned up to what he did and told me what he should have done instead. Then he went on to say, in the most up beat way, "Well, at least I didn't have scratching on my list. The other boy was pushing and scratching!"
Good restraint, Henry!
Then when I asked him what name he called the other boy, I braced myself.
He didn't want to tell me, but I had to know out of sheer fear of what it could be.
M: "Henry, you had better tell me what name you called him?"
H (in a very meek, quiet voice): "Fancy Pants."
M: "What did you say?"
H: "I called him Fancy Pants."
Fancy Pants?! That's not exactly what I expected!
Who would have guessed that name was even an option in a pushing/scratching tussle?!
Luckily, I kept a straight face and powered through with his consequence--20 sentences.
Hopefully by the time he gets to high school, he realizes that calling someone Fancy Pants doesn't make him seem the least bit intimidating, but for now I hope that's as bad as his mouth gets!
* * * * *
Trouble always just seems to find Henry.
I know he means well, he just forgets himself--a lot!
It's the self control that gets him usually. We're working on it, though!
He will often tell me things like, "I was going to take one of those cookies in the kitchen, but then I stopped and said, 'Do I think I should take it?' and my head said no because I would get in trouble, so I didn't even take it!"
Does talking to himself make him sound crazy? Yes, but I don't care if it keeps him out of trouble!
Plus, at the end of the day, how can I be upset with a boy who uses Fancy Pants as a bad word and who refuses to see a punishment as a bad thing!
I love that boy! Naughtiness and all!
