I'm a bit of a nervous wreck right now. I got an email yesterday from R's teacher advising that our Wonder Boy has been acting up for substitute teachers. His teacher took a day last week and again on Tuesday (she has kids and end of the year stuff too, great teacher I don't begrudge her that at ALL. She is super organized and is an awesome teacher). She let me know if he acted up today when she is out that he will get a pink slip. UGH. This boy is usually not trouble -- stubborn, but not troublesome.

I hope he is good today and I don't have to dust off more of my Parenting with Love and Logic stuff too quickly. End of the school year -- I just want to make it through the next week! I visited the website and am printing off some articles and hand outs for my quick refresher. Why can I not remember to parent like this? It make so much sense...

Yesterday I printed the email from his teacher and picked him up from school as normal. When we got in the car I continue to talk to Wonder Boy and Monkey Girl normally and pleasantly while handing him the email to read. He took it, read it, and I truly thought his eyes would pop out of his head. I think he nearly threw up in my car.

We got home and poor Wonder Boy was struck with the intestinal thing has indeed hit the rest of us this week. It kind of works like a 12 hour flu vs. 24. You have the issue for a few hours, then it is gone and you are a bit dehydrated. (Yes I'm wondering about the evil mosquitoes and some sort of infection. Our friend's 18 month old was bitten the same night as us at a soccer game and had to be hospitalized from the infection he got from the bite! He was the 4th kid hospitalized that day for a mosquito bite. YIKES!).

Anyway, Wonder Boy actually took a nap and skipped dinner. Later we chatted and he really had no intention of being disruptive, just said he was talking louder than he thought and got corrected on it a few times. Then the 2nd time he had the same substitute she thought he was the disrupter when he was the one correcting a friend. Well, I explained that once you are labeled as a trouble maker that it sticks.

We discussed how he will have to prove himself many times over to get this substitute's trust back. Good lesson! I hope he learned it and comes home WITHOUT a pink slip today. Fingers crossed! It is important he pays the cost now while it is small vs. later when it is big. Like I said, Parenting with Love and Logic makes a LOT of sense, but setting up the ground work takes time. I need to take the time. I'm hoping with the school break I can lay down a good foundation again. The chaos of extended family illness and high drama has taken a break. I trust we will take good advantage.