The Flicker

Second grade has started with more issues than expected. My son Blake has never had behavior reports sent home before. Even in kindergarten he very seldom had cards pulled. We are just into October and in comes note number 3 from the teacher. After the first 2 he was warned if another came home he would loose his Xbox for a week.

My first hint something was up should have came when he went straight to sleep after school. When he awakes from his nap I go through his book bag searching for the daily homework and what do I find. Yep, the third note. According to the teacher my sweet little angel "flicked" his pencil at a little girl four feet behind him hitting her on the arm. Also noted, he was not quiet and kept other children from completing their work. I was floored. This is the same child who never got into that sort of trouble at school and now he actually hit another with a pencil. The guilt of motherhood hits me. What if he had actually really hurt the child. It could have been worse and hit her in the eye instead of her arm. I proceed to sit him down for an explanation into why he would do such a thing. His response "she got on my nerves."

I try to gather my motherly instincts to handle the situation properly. I asked the name of the little girl. Once he tells me I have to stifle a laugh. This becomes obvious to him and I feel my mother creditability slipping out the window. See we have had the same girl since Kindergarten in our class. She is a sweet little girl but as a room mother, I hate to say this about another child, but she is in fact a pain. It doesn't negate the fact that what he did was wrong. I explain to him the dangers of "flicking" pencils. He tears up and says he understands. His teacher has explained as well. As the tears fall I send him off to his room.

Did he loose his Xbox for a week? I shamefully admit, no. My understanding of how the little girl could get on his nerves overshadowed my parenting skills.