My Jailbird Plays the Piano

I got a call last Friday, right before I was supposed to give my 1 hour lecture. Who was it? It was the Dean at Isaak's new school. Before I really talked to him I confessed that the reception is horrible where I work, just in case we got disconnected. The call took me off guard.

Here's How it Went: 

Isaak was outside in Walking Club. He started to tap or jab a few other kids. The other kids did the same. No one was hurt, or threatened. BUT Isaak didn't own up to it. It was behavior that often leads to fighting. Touching others isn't tolerated at that school. He gets an in school in school suspension on Monday (today).

I said I'd talk to Isaak, and got off the phone as quickly as I could because I knew my class was about to start.

Fast Forward to the End of the Day:

I mentioned this distraction phone call to a few people that all responded to, WHAT? You've got to be kidding me. I got out of class, went back to my office. I tried to call Mr. W., but he left for the day of course. I sent an email. I mentioned that if in fact he had bad behavior (which I don't think what he did was really bad per say), please help Isaak with getting more speedy - give him tips. All week last week he went to bed at 9:30, and probably didn't fall asleep until 10 due to the Strings Concert he HAD to go to, for his grade, and homework. I'd love for him to go to bed at 8:30 because we wake up at 6.

I wanted to say:

I'm just really glad Isaak's making friends he can play with! My co-worker thinks I should talk to him, and take him out for ice cream because of your ridiculous punishment. Don't you know boys play like that? Heck even some girls do. 

I picked up Isaak:

I got Isaak because he was at Poetry Slam. He didn't seem too bothered. I thought the boy would be in tears.

He said, "Mom look what I got!" It was an award, for the most outstanding Piano player. He was the only one that got one. Along with that he got candy, a free ice cream at Dairy Queen, and a few other random things. He was super excited!

When I brought up that the Dean called me, he said, "That was super annoying. Mom I didn't even feel like we did anything wrong. I seriously touched them lighter than if I was playing tag with them. They weren't bothered by it...until we got in trouble." 

I said, "Well I'm proud of you for your award. That is a big deal. We'll have to take a photo tomorrow when the lighting is better. You may have to serve the time for the touching big. It seems crazy to me! I emailed Mr. W., because he was gone for the day. I told him if you have to have suspension, which I don't agree with, I want them to give you all your homework, and work with you on tips for speeding up the process. Mr. W. really should focus on other kids that bully." 

Isaak said, "Am I in trouble at home?" 

I said, "No. Just know the rules at school, so this doesn't happen again. It's really ridiculous!" 

When Travis caught wind of it he email Mr. W. as well. 

We haven't heard anything back. Maybe I should call, but I kind of feel like I did what I could do. Isaak's learning about injustice today. I sent him to school in a sweat shirt that says, "Do Good", and "Be Good". I said, "Please don't wear your jacket, let them see the shirt. I love you! Ask them a lot of questions. Make them help you with your homework." 

What's something that you got in trouble for that was not called for? 

I had a few things happen:

I had to stay after school in 5th grade because I didn't realize there was a back to a homework assignment. My Mom was pissed at the teacher! I always did my homework. This was one time that I missed something not purposeful, and was in trouble for it. 

I used the word Enormous one year, and the teacher I had LOVED it because it was such a big word for me. The next year I used that same word again. That teacher kept me after school because she thought I copied that word off the board. She wasn't my favorite person in the world. 

I Just Couldn't Keep a Straight Face

Someone asked me this funny face was Photoshoped? I assure you it is not. I've been able to make this face since I was in the 6th grade. One time I made it, intending on making a little kid smile, or laugh. Well he started crying. Then I had to explain to his Mom that I made a face at him intending on making him smile. It didn't work. I felt awful. So...I don't make this face at random kids anymore.

To make the crazy lip face you take your top lip, move it to one side, bottom lip and move it to the other side, and softly bite down. I can make them move as well.

In all seriousness I had trouble keeping a straight face when I was talking with Isaak this weekend. It was more trouble with refraining on laughing my ass off; then making a silly face.

I was talking with Isaak about his friends at school. They now have names! They are no longer defined by their teeth color.

Isaak got in trouble on Friday. He squirted juice at his friend Jacob. He had to sit out on the bench at recess. Mica went up to Isaak and asked, "Why are you sitting on the bench, and not playing?" That's when Isaak told him about the juice. I don't know if Isaak would have told us about him getting in trouble, or not? Mica just blurted it out. Otherwise it may have gone under the rug, so to speak.

Well he was already punished. We didn't make too big of a deal out of the situation. We just talked to him.

Then Isaak said, "I better make Jacob an apology letter!" It wasn't our idea.

Isaak sat down and wrote, "Sorry squirtin Jacob I love you gjuice." He drew a picture, folded it, and put fake stamps on it.

Mica yelled out, "You can't say, 'love' in school Isaak!" Isaak said, "But I do love him. I love all my friends and family."

I just shook my head and said, "It's the thought that counts. If teachers are going to have a problem with it they can choose not to give it to Jacob." I wrote in Isaak's back to school folder that Isaak took it upon himself to write an apology letter to Jacob for squirting juice on him. The teacher can do as she pleases.

Isaak told me he has another friend he plays with at recess. Her name is Maddie. Now Isaak for the past year has said that he doesn't like girls. He only likes the girls he knows. Mica on the other hand never thought girls had cooties. 

I said, "What do you and Maddie play with at recess?" 

Isaak said, "Kitties! We play kitties. I just love kitties!" He let out a few purr sounds, acted like he was holding a cat, and petting it.

I just about lost it. I was fighting back laughter. Isaak didn't look pleased with the fact that I let out a chuckle. I tried my best not to laugh.

Punishment on a Birthday

It was Isaak's birthday yesterday.

In the morning Isaak unwrapped a few gifts from us. His party isn't for another week yet. Yesterday was pretty low key. Mica immediately wanted to play with all of Isaak's toys. Does anyone reading this have any rules about birthdays and siblings? In my book the kid who has a birthday shouldn't have to share for that day. It's their day. Daddy thinks it should be that way for a whole week. We just saw again today how Mica tried to take over Isaak's toys. 

Isaak got a Spider-Man truck, a little boy/puppy set and a game called Lost Puppies. Walgreens had these little tiny puppies that light up, bark and say, "I love you." Two of those 50 cent puppies were his gift toppers. He was excited. Mica immediately wanted to play with Isaak's Spider-Man car, then he wanted to take the little boy/puppy set out of the box. We said, "Nope!" to both of Mica's wants. Mica's green with envy.

We had a great breakfast. I made Juneberry muffins! Yummy! Off to swimming lessons we went.

We went to Toys R Us where Isaak picked out his gift with Grandma and Grandpa Apel's money. I knew Isaak wanted something called My Pet Butterfly. It's a butterfly in a jar that flies around when you tap on the jar. It was on clearance. Isaak's been eying it since the last time we went there. He also got a remote control car that's for ages 4 and up.

We made a Whole Foods run and came home.

Mica and Isaak helped take things in. I had lot of groceries to bring in the house.

The moment I got upstairs after unloading things downstairs I hear an, "Oh no I can't believe you did that Isaak!" I went in to Mica's room and Isaak's new remote control car was ripped out of the box by Mica. Isaak had taken Mica's scissors that he was using to cut open the packaging and cut the car's antenna off! I maybe should have taken a time out. I was mad! The boys must of known because they both looked ashamed. I was upset with Mica for taking Isaak's new car right out of the box! Especially since we told him, "No!" about that earlier! I was upset with Isaak for cutting something he shouldn't of! I got on Mica's case more. Daddy tried out the car today, and it worked. It buzzed around this house like it didn't need an antenna. Thank you car! If the boys had a concept of what money was I probably would have made them pool their money together and go buy another one. Instead they had to go down for naps yesterday. Then help me clean today.

I have to say that after a nap Mica was nice! He frosted Isaak's cake and added sprinkles on it. Then he helped me with dinner. We played Isaak's new puppy game as a family. Things did get better.

We had cake and Isaak got to unwrap his last present from us. It was a Melissa and Doug Mosaic Tile Set. Then we watched a movie - Isaak's choice.


Today was a cleaning day. The boys helped me vacuum out the couches, we swept, we did the laundry (bedding) and cleaned out the refrigerator. I decided that cleaning out the refrigerator is one of my least favorite jobs. That and cleaning the toilet! Their punishments helped me get stuff done.

He Stepped On Her Shoelace!

Yesterday Mica got in trouble at school. It was the first time he's gotten marks. He had to miss part of recess! Daddy and I were not too impressed with his behavior!

He got three marks for minor things like talking during class, and one mark for something I consider major. A girl walked past him, he noticed that her shoe was untied and he decided to step on her shoelace. Only he wouldn't stop stepping on her shoelace!

Source

It is my understanding that this girl did not fall. I only got Mica's perspective.

Daddy had already talked to Mica for 10 minutes about respect; then he got talked to by me. I also got a few CD's I won from My Baby's Going Green in the mail. I was going to wait and give the boys the CD's for Christmas. Instead, Mica listened to: Big Bully. We listened, we talked and we danced.

This weekend I'm going to have Mica write an apology letter to whom ever shoelace he stepped on. I would have done this last night, but a six year old writing a letter takes a long time.

Mica Influenced His Brother in a Bad Way Today

• Mica wanted a toy that was on the top of the TV. One that we put there because it needs supervision. 
• Mica was trying to explain to Isaak how he could take a chair, bring it over to the TV stand, climb up to the top of the TV stand and get the toy off the top of the TV.
• We over heard his little conversation to Isaak, while we were getting dinner ready. 
• Daddy went in and broke the conversation up.
• What are we in for?