How we spent our suspension
I worked–and was told to delegate the majority of the big project to others. I went to the camp and talked to the head counselor, who was kind and understanding. I’ve been beating myself up about being conflicted and imperfect.
I’m a mom. It’s enough. I don’t have to be a single mother to feel that conflict.
The King of Everything went to his grammy’s house for the day, and did chores, and discussed the incident. He wrote a lovely letter (well, he dictated it to his grammy who kindly wrote it for him) and drew a picture of a big mouth with lots of teeth. Then he put a circle around it. Then he drew a line through it. “That means, ‘Do Not’, Grammy,” he explained. And then it was over. You can’t punish a little kid over and beyond the crime or he’ll just wear out from boredom and exhaustion. We spent some time discussing what was so great about the boy he had bitten, and all the great things about his best friend at camp, and all the great things about the KoE, in an attempt to help him see why having more than one friend, and sharing friends with others, is a wonderful thing to do.
This morning, he was welcomed back with open arms by his peers and counselors.
And apparently, he only got three time outs. Unfortunately, one was for dropping his swim trunks in line.
They had still been on his body.
*facepalm* Wake me when he’s 30, please?
Tags: children, discipline, punishment, single-mom, single-mommy, single-motherRelated Stories
POSTED IN: parenting
9 opinions for How we spent our suspension
Liz
Jul 18, 2007 at 10:03 pm
I think little boys…and grown men for that matter, are proud to show off what they have. It happens to everyone. I’m sure other boys at camp will do the same thing.
Kat
Jul 18, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Hee heee, boys are so much fun! LOL
I have two boys, they are teens now, but yeah, dropping the swim trunks/pants/shorts to show off their goods, it never goes away. Hahahaha
Kate
Jul 19, 2007 at 3:16 am
Hahahahahahahahahaha.
Here, kids just strip off when their clothes get wet while they play in the creek. No one cares. They just slap their foreheads and say,
“Ai Mumcheti!”
Ah, boys.
If he gets suspended again, just put him on the next flight for Bulgaria.
Andrea
Jul 19, 2007 at 10:48 am
Hahahaha, you did a great job handling it! Consider yourself my official discipline role model.
Rachel Sarah
Jul 19, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Please let me just remind you, dear, what an amazing, thoughtful, loving Mommy you are… The KoE is so blessed to have YOU!
xo
christina
Jul 19, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Liz and Kat, I’m relieved and erm, dismayed to hear this.
christina
Jul 19, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Kate, it sounds like a wonderful option. The King would love to go skinny dipping! Boys, indeed.
christina
Jul 19, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Andrea, you should read the positive parenting books. Honestly, I’m only parenting by numbers, doing what they recommend.
christina
Jul 19, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Rachel, you’re making me blush! You sure you don’t want to move to the Right Coast?
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