Crime and Punishment and other stuff

- I read a blog the other day where the writer was saying that her 7 year old son had been getting into trouble at school (sent to the principal's office) so she took away his favorite Spiderwick Chronicals books and he had to earn them back by not being bad at school. Seems like a logical plan to me. BUT, a bunch of people commented about this issue and I can't believe what some of them said. First of all, most people thought she was doing the right thing. Several thought she shouldn't take away books since reading is a good thing. I commented, "Take away his favorite books. He will still read other books but he will really miss the ones he loves which is the whole point of punishment." However, and this is what get's me, a bunch of people said that it is probably the teacher's fault. That maybe this kid is bored. Maybe the teacher has spring fever. Maybe he needs to be challenged more. Maybe the teacher just doesn't like him. Maybe he needs a different discipline plan where he get's more chances at good behavior. Excuse me while I go throw up. MAYBE he's just breaking the rules and needs to be punished! Now, I am lucky because I have two kids who don't get into trouble at school. (Parker has had his bus moved 2 times this year for talking and to the best of my knowledge, Jack saves all his bad for home.) Boredom does not authorize you to misbehave. I know Parker is bored, but he doesn't start misbehaving--he doodles. Now, I know that every kid is different but making excuses for bad behavior is one of the biggest reasons for bad behavior. I hate it when people blame the teacher when a kid is breaking rules. Feel free to remind me that I ranted about this when one of my kids starts misbehaving at school and it's all the fault of their mean teacher.

We saw Horton Hears A Who last night and we all loved it. It has such a good message. I could see that Parker totally understood that the movie was about more than an elephant and the Who's. Cool. He's getting so grown up. I heard Jack describing the movie to my mom. It went something like this, "Horton was an elephant and he found a little thing that people were on and there was a mouse--super fast and he was blue. He was the funniest mouse. And the people said "HELP!" And Katie said "poop" and she flied. And there was a mean kangaroo. I don't know what that yellow thing was. I think it was a planet. There was a duck who flies and telled on the kangaroo. And there was a little guy at the end who was singing but he didn't talk." That pretty much sums it up.

We have a surprise trip to Chicago planned for this weekend to go the Lego store and an indoor waterpark so you know we will all get the flu on Friday morning.

Jack told me all about Jesus in the garden and how his friends fell asleep while he prayed to God. I would like to say that he learned that from me, but it's from preschool. He has also learned the same color songs that Parker learned in kindergarten. He's going to love walking into kindergarten in another year already knowing a lot of the stuff. He is way ahead of where Parker was at this stage. I always find it interesting that Parker just wasn't into the school thing until kindergarten. It's like a few weeks before kindergarten started a little light went on that said "GO!" and he hasn't looked back since.

Parker's school had an art fair last week. Parker made a visor for me that said, "MOM #1" I have a witness that it was all his idea. He is such a sweet boy. I wonder how long it will last!?

Last week Jack washed his Leapster. I mean soaked it. I took it apart and dried it but it still didn't work. After about 24 hours it magically began working again. Thank goodness. That thing is his best friend during the day.

I've been making lots of paper flowers because I am hoping to sell them. I think they are so fun to look at. Just a little spot of sunshine perfect for a desk or counter.