Phone Call From a Friend

This evening when we got home, the answering machine was blinking at us. We had a message. As Dude and Sister were running around being noisy, I tried to listen to the voicemail. I quickly realized as I was listening, that this message wasn't for me or my husband.

It was for Sister!

Her little friend Candice from her class had called and left her number so we could call back. It was a very cute message too. Candice was obviously coached by her mother on what to say and to use polite manners. I could also hear her Mom in the background whispering each digit in their phone number as Candice recited it back into the phone. Very cute.

So then it was our turn. I told Sister what to say and gave her some pointers on what to do if Candice wasn't available. They chatted for about 15 minutes about mostly observational stuff. Some examples: "I have an orange cat." "No, that was just my little brother." "My Mom's cooking dinner." (Author's note: Since when does peanut butter and honey sandwiches count as "cooking" dinner?) Then the phone was turned over to the Moms.

The girls had set up a play date for this coming Sunday, and oh, "is it okay, Mom?" So, it looks like we'll be heading to the park for a couple of hours on Sunday. Should be fun!

I'm constantly reminded - on a daily basis, it seems - that my little girl is growing up.

Photo courtesy of Jason Nicholls.

Phone Call From School

So, today I'm at the office plugging away when the phone rings. On the caller ID, I see the name of the school district that Thing 1 attends. My first thought was, "Oh no! It's the school nurse, and she's got that nasty bug that's been going around."

But then Thing 1's teacher ... began ... speaking. My next thought was, "Oh no! What did she do that warrants a call from the teacher?!"

She calmly explained that during a study time, Thing 1 and the three girls at her table did not do the activity they were instructed to work on. I'm thinking that while this clearly isn't good behavior, it doesn't require a phone call at work from the teacher. Something else must be up.

Then she says that instead of working on the assigned activity, each of the girls thought it better to cut their clothing. CUT THEIR CLOTHING?! What on earth would possess them to do something like that? Who's bright idea was that anyway?

So the teacher says they had discussed taking personal responsibility for their actions, and that the girls needed to tell their parents themselves. Right then. So the teacher puts Thing 1 on the phone.

After quizzing and lecturing her for a few minutes with some muted "yes ma'ms" and "I don't knows" for answers, I tell her that we'll discuss it again later at home ... with her daddy.

She thought it was no big deal that she'd cut her (brand new!) shirt in two places. After all, we know someone who can fix it. Ha!

She sort of got out of it tonight since she fell asleep on the couch shortly after dinner. So while she's dreaming, we're trying to think of a way to teach her a lesson about taking care of her things and that her things have value (a.k.a. they cost money! MY money!). I'll let you know what we come up with.