Lessons Learned!

Last week at school, Rachel got her first infraction!!! Even the word sounds bad.....



I-N-F-R-A-C-T-I-O-N

We are five months into the year and honestly, I have no idea what the heck it even means, other than signing your name in a different spot in the agenda book. And of course that it is not good, worse than "red bear" of course, which can't be good!



So I asked her what she had the infraction for. Here is the story I heard...at first!



Rachel---"I don't remember why I got an infraction!"



Me---"Rachel if you do not tell me, you are staying in your seat buckled in when we stop to see

Desiree in a few minutes....( had to drop Jomar off to his mom)"



Rachel---"Oh, wait I remember now mommy(funny how a five year old's memory returns at just the right time!)....Mrs. Berry only told me one time I needed to listen and then told me to get my agenda. She told the rest of the class five or six times"



Me---"Rachel, you were told one time and you had an infraction?...that does not make sense."



Soooo, after some going back and forth...and Rachel saying that is definately what happened, I figured out the real story. This was confirmed the next day at school when I spoke to Mrs. Berry....

The whole class was not listening...they were told a bunch of times to listen/follow directions. Most of them, decided enough was enough and decided to throw it in and LISTEN!!!! Most of them, remember is the key. My daughter and a couple of others had just a bit more to say and, well, the rest is history. Over to the cubbies they went, out came the agendas and in went the "infractions". (and of course the pretty green pen writing under her DOL for me to sign it!)

After being told the next day by her teacher, that Rachel apparently has "come out of her shell" since Thanksgiving, I now know that she is quickly becoming Miss Social in the class. That of course gives me mixed feelings....me being the child who literally did not say two words all day at school (when I decided to surprise everyone and go that is!) definately does not want my daughter to go through the same level of being shy. On the other hand, after having spent seven years in a public school as a teacher, and many hours listening to other teachers about the kids who would not "shutup" today (not my words of course!!!), I really want her to, well, listen!!! So I decided to just lay it on the line and tell her, pretty much what any mom would! And so started my mini-adult conversation with her.

On the way home....

Me: "Rach, I know that you have really come out of your shell at school and really started to get to know the other kids a lot more. I am really happy that you are talking and being friends with everyone. But, you have to remember there is a time to talk but when the teacher is talking, you need to listen to her. You need to be respectful. You need to follow directions. Do you understand?"

Rachel: "uh-huh" as she looks at me blankly!

So of course, I know best. I am the mom, that's what we do,right? In comes my OCD about the situation and I think to myself..."I can't believe she isn't taking me seriously. She is just brushing it off."

Me: "Rachel, do you know what I am telling you? Do you see my point about having to listen at school????? Are you listening to me NOW!?!?!?!?"

To which she answers in a very "matter of fact, I am now going to inform my mommy of something she obviously does not know" voice.

Rachel: "Yes, I understand, I need to listen....but mommy, I don't have a SHELL. What you said about coming out of my shell...I don't have one!"


And so, two important lessons learned ....she will listen more at school...and I...well... I will talk to her like a five year old minus all the fancy expressions!!!! :)