November 2, 2012

  • It Sucks To Be Chewlee Lately

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    Chewlee ended up her week with one frowny face, three squiggly faces and only one smiley face.  The teacher put a note in with Chewlee's papers because she wants to have a meeting with the Princess.  I noticed one interesting thing when going thru her backpack.  The teacher gave Chewlee an activity type book that is more advanced than normal for a kindergarten kid.  I think she knows that Chewlee is bored and the reason she will play or not do certain things is because she already knows what the other kids in the class are just learning.

    When her mother was admonishing her over her not listening and not following directions, she brought Chewlee to tears because she said, *You want to learn to read but, guess what?  If you aren't listening to the teacher, you won't learn to read and they will keep you in kindergarten with the babies.*  Chewlee started bawling and saying, *But I WANT to learn to read.  I don't want to be a baby!*  It was really heartbreaking to hear her but...it's true.  If she doesn't listen, she'll never learn to read because mixed in with the things Chewlee already knows are new things related to reading.

    The Princess will forgive Chewlee one non-smiley face and do something fun with her on Saturday mornings and then they will often go out to lunch before it's time for Chewlee to come stay with me.  But Chewlee knew she had blown it this week and said to me, *I'll do better next time.*  When I told her that she had said that too many times now and I really didn't think she meant it because just look what her folder SHOWED me about her behavior.  She got mad and said, *I WILL do better on Monday.  Watch and see, Grandma.*  I told her then that she could have a sleepover the very first time she got smiley faces for a whole week.  She's been wanting to have one for a while now but I have put her off due to the Beast's surgery on his eyes (the cataract and the eyelid problem), my surgery on my abdominal/hip area and before that, the cleaning of my left carotid.  That's about a month's time and it's very unusual for her not to stay over at least once or twice during a month.

    When the Princess told her that it looked like she (the Princess) would have to come to her class and watch her, Chewlee wailed again.  She said she didn't want her mother to come and sit in her class.  The Princess asked if any of her friends mothers had to come to class to make sure they behaved, Chewlee shook her head *no* and cried more.  I was thinking about it and realized that, for over a week, we've been really rough on this kid.  She's been chewed out over her squiggly faces and the reasons the teacher gave for it from both me and her mother (and probably Johnnycakes, too).  I figured I have to tell her some good things she does, too so I made sure to thank her when she was really helpful.  I meant to tell that to the Princess, too, but forgot due to her being upset with Chewlee (and I brought the workbook to her attention and told her I thought the teacher knew Chewlee was bored, too).

    Well, I'm tired and want to go to bed early so I will sign off with *Love you all* and get this posted.