Does anyone have Santa's direct number?
My darling, precious, brilliant 4-year-old daughter got written-up at school yesterday. Only in Pre-K and already visiting the Principal's office.... I can't wait for kindergarten!
After her teacher told me what happened, I went to the principal to get the write-up, which I had to sign (of course). I apologized and said I would talk to Chloe about her very poor decision.
Me: Chloe, did you get in trouble today?
C: Nope! I had a great day!
Me: You didn't have to go visit Ms. W?
C: Oh. Well. Yes.
Me: What happened?
C: Well, S, and me, and H got in trouble.
Me: What did you do?
C: I didn't do anything! S was coloring on the potty with a pencil.
Me: Did you color on the potty?
C: No, but I helped clean it.
Me: Chloe, what are you supposed to do if someone is making a poor choice?
C: Tell them to stop. We provoke one another to good works, right Mama?
Me: That's right. Why didn't you tell her to stop?
C: I was busy drawing on the wall.
Me: ...
C: I drew a boy! He's so cute!
Me: ...
C: An' I gave him arms and a BIIIIIG smile....
Me: Did your teacher know YOU drew on the wall?
C: No, we just cleaned the potty.
Me: And did you tell her it was you?
C:
Me: Chloe, your teacher said you tried to blame someone else?
C:
Me: Did you blame C?
C: He's always in trouble!
Me: Chloe, just because he's always in trouble, doesn't mean you blame him for something you did. That's lying.
C: The Bible says, "Do not tell lies." Speak the truth in love, right?
Me: Chloe, if you KNOW that, why did you do it?
C: I don't know! I didn't want to get in trouble. <sniffles and pitiful forced tears>
Me: That is inappropriate and unacceptable. You need to say sorry...
So, she prayed about it last night and told Jesus she was sorry and asked him, "Jesus, please don't tell Santa so he won't just give me a letter that says to be good and better and not draw on the wall."
She now has to earn back her favorite toys, which was another discussion altogether. I asked her what consequence she should earn for her decision to draw on the wall, and she said, "Well, I guess you should take something away."
Me: What should I take away?
C: Um. My very favorite toy...
Me: Which one?
C: The hippo in the toy bin. (The toys in the toy bin are in the playroom and not accessed as usual bedtime lovies, so she was playing me.)
Me: I think I need to take away something that you LIKE to cuddle with...
C: Oh, well definitely not my puppy! I never cuddle that puppy....
Me: While I appreciate your reverse psychology, it won't work. How about this - no stuffed animals tonight, and you can earn them back over the next few days as you show me and your teachers good choices and proper behavior?
C: I guess that's a good idea. Just don't call Santa.
This morning she wrote a note to her teacher that said "Sorry. From Chloe C."
And when I dropped her off I showed the morning aide where she had colored on the wall and told her that CHLOE needed to clean it. She said it was okay, and I insisted that Chloe be the one to do the clean up as it was a natural consequence.
She's NEVER drawn on anything but paper. She never did the whole crayon-to-wall thing most toddlers do. Gah. Vandalism and lying all in one day...
I'm ready for Christmas break.
After her teacher told me what happened, I went to the principal to get the write-up, which I had to sign (of course). I apologized and said I would talk to Chloe about her very poor decision.
Me: Chloe, did you get in trouble today?
C: Nope! I had a great day!
Me: You didn't have to go visit Ms. W?
C: Oh. Well. Yes.
Me: What happened?
C: Well, S, and me, and H got in trouble.
Me: What did you do?
C: I didn't do anything! S was coloring on the potty with a pencil.
Me: Did you color on the potty?
C: No, but I helped clean it.
Me: Chloe, what are you supposed to do if someone is making a poor choice?
C: Tell them to stop. We provoke one another to good works, right Mama?
Me: That's right. Why didn't you tell her to stop?
C: I was busy drawing on the wall.
Me: ...
C: I drew a boy! He's so cute!
Me: ...
C: An' I gave him arms and a BIIIIIG smile....
Me: Did your teacher know YOU drew on the wall?
C: No, we just cleaned the potty.
Me: And did you tell her it was you?
C:
Me: Chloe, your teacher said you tried to blame someone else?
C:
Me: Did you blame C?
C: He's always in trouble!
Me: Chloe, just because he's always in trouble, doesn't mean you blame him for something you did. That's lying.
C: The Bible says, "Do not tell lies." Speak the truth in love, right?
Me: Chloe, if you KNOW that, why did you do it?
C: I don't know! I didn't want to get in trouble. <sniffles and pitiful forced tears>
Me: That is inappropriate and unacceptable. You need to say sorry...
So, she prayed about it last night and told Jesus she was sorry and asked him, "Jesus, please don't tell Santa so he won't just give me a letter that says to be good and better and not draw on the wall."
She now has to earn back her favorite toys, which was another discussion altogether. I asked her what consequence she should earn for her decision to draw on the wall, and she said, "Well, I guess you should take something away."
Me: What should I take away?
C: Um. My very favorite toy...
Me: Which one?
C: The hippo in the toy bin. (The toys in the toy bin are in the playroom and not accessed as usual bedtime lovies, so she was playing me.)
Me: I think I need to take away something that you LIKE to cuddle with...
C: Oh, well definitely not my puppy! I never cuddle that puppy....
Me: While I appreciate your reverse psychology, it won't work. How about this - no stuffed animals tonight, and you can earn them back over the next few days as you show me and your teachers good choices and proper behavior?
C: I guess that's a good idea. Just don't call Santa.
This morning she wrote a note to her teacher that said "Sorry. From Chloe C."
And when I dropped her off I showed the morning aide where she had colored on the wall and told her that CHLOE needed to clean it. She said it was okay, and I insisted that Chloe be the one to do the clean up as it was a natural consequence.
She's NEVER drawn on anything but paper. She never did the whole crayon-to-wall thing most toddlers do. Gah. Vandalism and lying all in one day...
I'm ready for Christmas break.
Comments
Thanks, though - we do work really hard at constructive parenting. :)