Obligatory Child Post

[kyburg]

We're ending the third week with our start with kid's new school, and the last two days he's gotten 'carded' for talking in class. We think. Nobody has sent home a nasty gram, nobody has called us, nobody has complained.

He's just gotten two color dots on his calendar that aren't green. Okay, we talked to him about it, and last night he got to sit and write "I will not talk in class" fifty times. (Yes, he's six, in kindergarten and he can do that. Very well, actually.) Today, I have no idea. I don't expect a complete turnaround, not with his history.

I have a chatterbox for a boy. Ask anyone - boys aren't verbal. Well, mine is. Bite me.

*sighs* I just wish I knew what was driving it. Instead of jumping out of his seat, he's popping off with his mouth. My little cockatrice, half lion and half strutting rooster. You *will* notice me. Twerphead.

The lunches are what's getting me, though. School has contracted with a third-party, ChoiceLunch and yes, you pick your lunch from about 20 choices every day - the hot entrees change, but the balance is sandwiches (and sushi!) and every day there is macaroni and cheese, if that floats your boat.

So far, the pizza is the biggest hit. He's actually eating better to boot and if he's being challenged to eat stuff out of his comfort zone, he's got fair warning and knows about it ahead of time...and made the choice himself. Win-win.

Before and aftercare is done in a room that is as close to a living room (complete with comfy comfy couch and television) as I could ask for - and it's always warm. Everyplace else has been cold in the mornings, but that room is heated and comfortable...lovely.

I like using the term 'modest' to describe it, which implies it's more conservative (parochial school, hello) - it's uniformed (no jeans, unless you pay a bump on Friday) and nothing but polo shirts, solid-colored polo shirts, all week long. Oh, and a white one on Wednesday, that's chapel day. To the good, his vanity is being stroked big time - he's getting to wear a BELT and tuck his shirt in and oh my doesn't he look nice? Has to have his hair combed just so, don't you know.

I think he's enjoying this - but the car conversations now include talk about dying (about a year or so ahead of schedule, drat), and we're re-sorting our vacation time out to accommodate when they will be closed (there's a week in August between the end of 'summer camp' and the start of the Fall semester, for example). There's a field trip to go see 'The Lorax' next week. And the homework is done for the week in one night.

He's falling asleep easily at night, sleeps the night through. Does not like getting up in the morning, but you can't have everything.

For the rest? It's profanity, and Mom taught me not to use language like that.

Comments

[eyelid.livejournal.com]

boys aren't verbal.

I always wonder where people come up with these things.

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

I was about to respond to Donna, "Have you met my son?!"

[eyelid.livejournal.com]

she didn't make it up - it's a thing people say. It's just a stupid thing. My son's one critique from his teacher at the parent-teacher-conference before last is that he can't seem to stop participating in class.

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

Alan isn't quiet either :)

Sounds like the school is going much better than the old one!

[murphymom.livejournal.com]

Older son's teacher comment at the first "report card" conference in kinder? "He's very verbal." Younger son starred in "The Great Kapok Tree" in second grade - in Spanish, no less. "Boys aren't verbal" - it is to laugh.

Glad to hear the new school is working out so well.

Re: talk of death starting "ahead of schedule" - don't get too hung up on "schedules". Younger son started talking and pondering about death at that age - because there'd been a death of a family friend and then he'd seen a movie ("Titanic"?) that reinforced the theme. Not saying that's what's happening with Xander, but it's certainly possible some outside event (even the death of an animal) that triggered it.

[sekl.livejournal.com]

Some teachers put too much emphasis on gender. Any boy can be talkative with the right subject and many just like to talk. Take a ten year old to the "most awesome move ever" and you've got a regular Roger Ebert.