The First Report Card

I knew, intellectually, that Drake would be receiving a report card.  It's only Pre-K, but the school has standards and communicates those standards to the parents.  I wasn't expecting the report card to be in Drake's folder yesterday.  After all of the issues and the four trips to the Principal's office, I felt a catch in my throat.  I was pleasantly surprised (and relieved) to read that "Drake is a sweet boy and a pleasure to have in class."  Whew!

The behavior is starting to turn toward the better, but there are still some set backs.  Two weeks ago, Drake shoved another boy to the ground.  Thankfully, the boy wasn't hurt.  When we were getting in the car that day, Drake said to me, "I don't want to send Frank a Christmas card."  (He has been making cards for all the kids in his class to mail out.)  "Why not?" I asked.  "Because Frank is mean," he replied.  Knowing that Frank was the boy Drake shoved, I had to dig deeper.  "Drake, what happened with Frank today?"

And then it all spilled out.  "Frank was pushing me and I told him to stop and he wouldn't stop so I pushed him."

"Did you tell your teachers that he pushed you first?"  (In the report from the teachers, when asked why Drake pushed Frank, Drake's response was "Because I felt like it.")

"No."

I felt two unusual sources of pride in my boy.  First, he didn't tattle.  We've been working on that with him, and even though both would have been in trouble, Drake's punishment would have been less severe.  Second, he didn't start the fracas, but by golly, he finished it.  I've been worried that Drake will become the target for bullies because he can be really sensitive.  I felt relief and pride, knowing that he will stand up for himself and not take any crap.  Should I be proud about that?

Mr. Independent

Scene: 5:30 am.  The house is dark and quiet.


Flynn wakes up.  He slaps his feet into the kitchen and gets himself a glass of water.  He goes back to the bathroom to take care of business.  He returns to the kitchen.  He opens the refrigerator, takes out a cup of yogurt, and sits at the table.  He remembers that he needs a spoon, so he goes and opens the drawer to get one.  He likes the big spoons.  He returns to the table, looking at the lid, wondering how he is going to open it.

Why do I have the feeling that he would make himself a cup of coffee if he could a) see over the counter, and b) liked coffee?

Feast Day

I am really enjoying of the holidays this year.  The boys are getting into the spirit and have an unnatural attachment to "Jingle Bells".  Yesterday, the 6th, was the Feast Day of St. Nicolas.  At school, Drake and his classmates had their "shoes" filled with goodies.  (Shoes being the paper ones they had colored the day before.  Something about a health code violation to place treats in their actual shoes.  :P )  In the evening, I took the boys to Bruno's European Cafe for good schnitzel and to meet St. Nicolas, all decked out in his traditional bishops' robes. I decided to have the boys eat first, since an unfed boy is a grumpy boy.  While waiting for the food, Drake wanted to write a letter to St. Nicolas on his place mat.  This is what he wanted to write:

Dear St. Nicolas,
I really like your dress.
Thank you.
Drake


The boys ate their adults size meals and made their way to the big man.  Flynn was skittish, but Drake walked right up to him.  They received chocolates, oranges, pfeffernusse, and coloring books.  Most of the chocolate was gone before we returned home.  And the boys bounced off the walls into the night.

Drake- chatting with St. Nicolas

Flynn wanted to start coloring RIGHT NOW!
(Sorry the pic is sideways.  Still trying to figure out that glitch.)