Mothering 101

To those of you unfamiliar with my parenting style, lets just call it unconventional. I believe in doing whatever seems like it will work in the moment. It may not be consistent long term, but it keeps the little trolls on their toes.

The oldest was reported absent to us by the automated system in his school. He claimed to have been ill during English. After an email exchange with said teacher it was discovered that he spent 18 minutes in the nurses office. Her class is 41 minutes long. HMMM.

She also shared that his grade for this six weeks is a startling 62%. Six missing assignments, no signed midterms (for points).

So I waited. He came home and was prepared for the standard disappointed look and lecture. But I made him sit on the floor and forbade him to use any term that was similar to "I don't know." He was going to be active in the conversation whether he liked it or not.

I laid out for him how his poor choices had kept him from some pretty cool stuff. I also added that if he thought for a single second that I was out of ideas to worsen his creature comfort level he was sadly mistaken. I would get him a weekly crew cut. I would throw out all his long socks and force him to wear the ultra low cut sports socks. I would give away all his marginally cool clothes and dress him in pink corduroy (he hates corduroy more than pink) and salmon shirts. There would only be secondhand shoes. Eating fast food would no longer be availabe to him (even if the family was having pizza).

On the flip side, I tried to highlight the many good things that could be accomplished by his smallest of efforts. He would be allowed out into the sun, to have friends over, to go to friends houses, attend functions, have a job, a learner's permit, dates. ETC ETC.

So the moral he should walk away with is this:\

Mommy loves you. Mommy wants good things for you. Mommy will help you anytime. But Mommy is not afraid to make the world she brought you into a place destitute of fun. Don't tempt Mommy. Mommy knows all.

Very humble don't you agree.:0)

Night all
Heather