It turns out we might know something about parenting after all

The Boy's principal called me last week and requested a meeting to go over his new behavior management program so that we are all of the same page. I agreed because we had a minor bit of miscommunication, and because, as a former teacher, I think those lines of communication should remain open at all times.

I was there, along with his teacher, the principal, and the school district's Behavior Management Specialist. I am glad she was there. She had some good suggestions for managing kindergartners in general. She kept repeating what MFH and I have been saying all along - "These are five year old children." I think we all came away with some good tools and good information.

Two things in particular stand out in my mind, and I wanted to share them with all of you:

1. Punishment at this age level should start over at mid-day. These children need to have the opportunity to make a bad day into a good day, instead of starting off on the wrong foot and then compounding the problems.
2. Behavior that is punished at school should not be punished at home. (Remember us refusing to take away his hockey?????) We should talk with him about what went wrong and how he might have handled it, but not make a negative into a double negative.

Mrs. R is revamping the behavior expectations of the whole class, and the Behavior Specialist is coming in to observe them in action.

A lot of the behaviors that his teacher pointed out are not things that we see here at home. Honestly? I think it's because he's our only child and the entire world revolves around him. That's not a bad thing in and of itself, but he wants that one on one attention with his teacher - or any adult - as well. That's why it's not a punishment for him to go to the principal - he likes her. He is alone with her.

We have some things to work on here at home. My child is co-dependent, but he is not to blame.

I am.