PART I
So, what do you do when you have a child(ren) who continuously lie, steal, don’t do homework, and skip school? As a single mom, what options do you have?
In the middle of my strike, that I thought was going very well I might add, my oldest two cherubs decided it was time to go pre-teen hormonal and test the boundaries of mom’s tolerance.
The lying and occasional taking of one’s sister’s stuff is on the normal side of sibling rivalry… but I draw the line--- I repeat--- I DRAW THE LINE AT SKIPPING SCHOOL.
Now mom, you may ask, how did you discover that your daughter was skipping school?
What? You mean I neglected to divulge that portion of the story? Hmmm. Allow me to mesmerize you with my amazing skills of crime scene investigation.
My eldest cherub, who just a week prior had attempted to pinch three packs of gum from the local convenience store, neglected to do a bit of homework and punitive sentence writing. The following morning, I noticed her backpack hidden behind the hallway bench. An attempt to use the “forgetting” of said school supplies as her excuse for not delivering the work that was due that day, I was certain.
It was 7:30 am. Cherub #1 had already vacated the house with cherub #2 to catch the bus. So, I scooped up cherub #3 as well as said backpack and embarked upon the morning routine of dropping off cherub #3 to before school care. After safely delivering my youngest progeny, I made my way to the local middle school.
Thinking very well of myself for thwarting cherub #1’s plans to control her disciplinary destiny, I walked into the school office requesting an audience with my eldest. The office staff was polite and rang the assigned classroom.
After a curt phone conversation, the secretary’s face clouded. “Mrs. Brennan, the teacher says Becca did not arrive at school today.”
A thousand thoughts ran through my mind. And yes, the first one was, “I’m gonna kill her.” Figuratively of course.
Rather than acting upon that impulse, I respectfully asked for an interlude with cherub #2, who confirmed that her sister did not get on the bus.
Oh, she is so dead.
Fighting to keep my blood pressure under control I called my boss to let him know I would not be in, then drove back home. After quietly closing the front door, I yelled the first, middle, and last name of my eldest child followed by a, “Where are you?”
Lo, from the basement comes a small voice. “Downstairs.”
My heart is beating frantically as I rush to the top of the staircase and swing open the door. There, in her school uniform, no socks or shoes, is my eldest cherub… smiling as though she has just won first prize in a scare-your-mom-to-death contest.
Was I glad she was home, rather than walking the streets? Yes. Did I hurt her bodily? No. But HARD LABOR was definitely in the cards.
After taking her to school, I retreated back to my haven to calculate my next move.
Stay tuned for PART DEUX of my latest adventure as a Backwoods Kentucky Author and Striking Mom.
So, what do you do when you have a child(ren) who continuously lie, steal, don’t do homework, and skip school? As a single mom, what options do you have?
In the middle of my strike, that I thought was going very well I might add, my oldest two cherubs decided it was time to go pre-teen hormonal and test the boundaries of mom’s tolerance.
The lying and occasional taking of one’s sister’s stuff is on the normal side of sibling rivalry… but I draw the line--- I repeat--- I DRAW THE LINE AT SKIPPING SCHOOL.
Now mom, you may ask, how did you discover that your daughter was skipping school?
What? You mean I neglected to divulge that portion of the story? Hmmm. Allow me to mesmerize you with my amazing skills of crime scene investigation.
My eldest cherub, who just a week prior had attempted to pinch three packs of gum from the local convenience store, neglected to do a bit of homework and punitive sentence writing. The following morning, I noticed her backpack hidden behind the hallway bench. An attempt to use the “forgetting” of said school supplies as her excuse for not delivering the work that was due that day, I was certain.
It was 7:30 am. Cherub #1 had already vacated the house with cherub #2 to catch the bus. So, I scooped up cherub #3 as well as said backpack and embarked upon the morning routine of dropping off cherub #3 to before school care. After safely delivering my youngest progeny, I made my way to the local middle school.
Thinking very well of myself for thwarting cherub #1’s plans to control her disciplinary destiny, I walked into the school office requesting an audience with my eldest. The office staff was polite and rang the assigned classroom.
After a curt phone conversation, the secretary’s face clouded. “Mrs. Brennan, the teacher says Becca did not arrive at school today.”
A thousand thoughts ran through my mind. And yes, the first one was, “I’m gonna kill her.” Figuratively of course.
Rather than acting upon that impulse, I respectfully asked for an interlude with cherub #2, who confirmed that her sister did not get on the bus.
Oh, she is so dead.
Fighting to keep my blood pressure under control I called my boss to let him know I would not be in, then drove back home. After quietly closing the front door, I yelled the first, middle, and last name of my eldest child followed by a, “Where are you?”
Lo, from the basement comes a small voice. “Downstairs.”
My heart is beating frantically as I rush to the top of the staircase and swing open the door. There, in her school uniform, no socks or shoes, is my eldest cherub… smiling as though she has just won first prize in a scare-your-mom-to-death contest.
Was I glad she was home, rather than walking the streets? Yes. Did I hurt her bodily? No. But HARD LABOR was definitely in the cards.
After taking her to school, I retreated back to my haven to calculate my next move.
Stay tuned for PART DEUX of my latest adventure as a Backwoods Kentucky Author and Striking Mom.
I think I'll call my son tonight and thank him for not putting me through this. Oy.
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