This week...

This week was quite a roller coaster ride for Mommy and Daddy!
(Starting from the youngest) Little Marina learned that shoving mini lego pirates' gold pieces up her nose nostrils is very unpleasant, makes her nose hurt, and makes Mommy very upset and anxious. In the process, she also learned how to blow her nose, with her mouth shut. (Thank the Lord, that's all it took to get those things out!)

Sweet Reese learned how to write the letters 'z' and 'w.' He also learned that, if he pulls a chair from the table to the counter, he can climb onto the counter, stand up, and reach just high enough to pull the big blue bowl off the top of the refrigerator. (That is, the big blue bowl that holds the remaining Halloween candy). Hmm...little Sneak!

Marky-Mark has had the roughest week of all. On Wednesday, he fearfully came home and showed me a behavior slip that stated he was to serve a silent lunch the next day...for spitting from up on the monkey bars. Not a huge crime, but still disrespectful and against the rules. So he accepted responsibility and served his punishment. Thursday, he came home from school visibly shaken, with yet another behavior slip. This time, he did something much worse. In an effort to make kids laugh, he had held up his snow glove, and pushed all the fingers down except the middle. I had to read it a few times to let that one soak in. Not MY kid!!! Not at a CHRISTIAN school!!! I told Mark I was going to let Daddy handle this one when he got home from work. And Mark said, "Oh no! That's the worst!"

He started giving me excuses, but I cut him off right away, saying, "Mark, if you start making excuses, you are only going to put yourself in more trouble! You know you were wrong. Just accept responsibility, Man-up and serve your punishment, and then move on knowing that Daddy and Mommy still love you!" So he quietly endured the agony of awaiting Daddy's return home (and inevitable punishment).

Being the wise father he is, Ryan had a very good talk with Mark. We realize that Mark doesn't understand the gravity of what that gesture means. So, I guess you can add that to what Mark learned this week...that sticking up a middle finger is like swearing at someone. He looked appalled when we told him that! He'd known it was a bad gesture. But didn't know HOW bad. Then Ryan reminded him that everyone in the 4th grade will probably hear about this little stunt. And Mark was equally appalled (and humiliated). Today, Mark intends to go apologize to his teacher, as well as his circle of friends, for not setting a good example and for doing something so wrong.

And Mommy learned that she should never think, "My child would never...." because you just never know. What's most important to me is that my kids would know they can come to us when they screw up. Even when they screw up big time. And we will hold them accountable for their actions....but we will also stand behind them and love them no matter what. I hope this instance can be the beginning of that kind of relationship with our eldest son.

Phew! Thank goodness it's the weekend!