How Soon We Forget

Kevin and I work pretty hard to provide the kids with everything they want and need.  However, we run a pretty tight ship at home.  I've always expected a lot out of my kids but they are all things that are non-negotiable.  Things like kindness to others, respect, being well behaved, doing the best you can at school, etc.  We drill these lessons into them, Reese especially because she's not under our watch 24/7 like Talan is.  But when they leave the house it's up to them whether they follow the rules or not.  You just hope and pray that they do. 

Yesterday I received an email from Reese's teacher to inform me that she was disruptive at school several times yesterday (and that wasn't the first time).  I was so disappointed and quite frankly embarrassed.  She knew her actions were wrong and she also knew that there would be consequences.  In talking to her last night I can only think that she was acting out to gain the attention of her peers.  Her goal was to get a rise and a laugh out of classmates.  She did but it definitely wasn't worth it. 

My parents called last night to discuss it with her in private.  Sometimes it helps to talk to someone other than your parents and often times she will open up more when it's not Kevin or I.  My mom wanted to talk to her about a time that her Uncle Steve did something almost identical when he was the same age and how much trouble he got into.  That immediately brought back some memories of past trouble I had been in. 

Now this was when I was a couple of years older than Reese.  Sixth grade to be exact.  We have moved from Hawaii to Florida and I desperately wanted to fit in.  I would have done just about anything for a friend.....and I did.  I brought balloons to school on the day of a project I was to demonstrate using them.  When my project was over I invited a few girls into the bathroom where I filled the balloons with water and dropped them on unsuspecting kids in the stalls next to me.  I'm cringing as I type this but remember how funny it seemed at the time.  Of course it was reported, and I was sent to the office, and they called my parents, and I spent the next day sitting in the front office writing the Code of Conduct.  And that's not even the worst I did.  That came in the middle & high school years. 

That said, I understand that being a kid is tough.  I will continue to drill into her what's expected but I'll also try to remember that we all mess up every now and again.  Praying that today was a better day for her.