Strike 2?

It started exactly the same.  I walked into Charlie's classroom and Miss Chelsea said, "Charlie had a great day except..."

Immediately my mind was racing -- how could this have happened again?  We talked to him.  We made him apologize.  We took away a star on the chalkboard (he was at 4 on his way to 5 before yesterday's incident).  How could he have done it again?

All of a sudden I tuned back in to what Miss Chelsea was saying "I caught him and a bunch of his friends showing their noodles on the playground."

"What?"  Maybe I'd misheard.  I thought kids did that at 5 or 6, not 2 years old!

"I caught them with their pants down, made them pull them up and put them all against the fence."

Nooo....not another time out.  I was really hoping he'd earn back the star he lost yesterday, not lose another one...Is my son a delinquent?

Miss Chelsea continued, "I explained that we don't show our noodles at school.  It's not polite.  Charlie was so upset.  He kept apologizing over and over and asking not to be sent to time out.  I felt bad for him."

Suddenly, I felt bad for him, too.   After all, I don't think we've ever explicitly told him he can't "show his noodle," and he appears to have learned his lesson.  

After a quick quiz on the way to the car, it was clear Charlie had learned his lesson.  I was so relieved not to have to be the stern mom a second day in a row, and not to have to take away another star.  At five stars he gets to go the petting zoo this Saturday, and he's already down to three.

So, relieved that Charlie may not be on the slippery slope to juvie, I texted Jason to share the story. 

His response?  "Is that a two star day?"

The Bad Seed?

Ok...perhaps that is a bit harsh, but Charlie had his first time out at school yesterday.  I know!  I'm not sure what is more shocking -- the fact that he's never had one before, or the fact that one of his many teachers (who happen to be wrapped more tightly around his little pinkie than even I am) finally gave him one.

As anyone who knows Charlie knows, he averages 1 to 2 timeouts a day here at home, but up until recently he was a perfect angel in public.  I guess he has decided that he's spent enough time laying that foundation, and now he can dive into his master plan...what that may be?  I have no idea.

Anyway, the offense happened during the morning shift, so I didn't get to speak to Miss Alisha about it directly when I picked up Charlie after school, but Miss Chelsea assured me that despite the note on his sheet, Charlie had had a "great afternoon." 

And the note itself?  Typical Charlie:

"He had a bit of a time with listening ears today.  I know he will have a better morning tomorrow.  :o)  I love Charlie."

Yes.  That is how my son gets in trouble.  In fact, this morning when Charlie apologized to Miss Alisha, she assured me that it was probably harder on her than on him. 

And the offense, itself?  He pushed a little kid down, the little bully.

And what, you may be asking, was Daddy's response to it all?  Regarding the push he was clearly disappointed and stern.  Regarding the note though, he smirked.  Yep.  That's right.  He thinks it's great that Charlie has grown women falling at his feet...I think we're doomed.

But yes...deep down inside I am thrilled that Charlie's teachers love him so much...how could a mother not be.  Don't tell him, though.  I'm firmly taking the hard line on this one.