Mr Defiant

I don't like repeating myself. I REALLY don't like repeating myself when it comes to things that shouldn't need to be said the first time around. Examples?

Put your dishes in the dishwasher
Put your clothes down the laundry chute
Put your homework where it belongs
Sit down in your chair when you eat
Don't walk around the house with food

I could go on and on, but let's be honest, you are already bored. *I* am bored with myself when I say these things. And yet, these are the things that drive me to insanity with how often I am saying them. Most of the time, the boys have not done them simply because they are being space cadets.

But not Calvin.

Oh, no. Not Calvin.

Sometimes he's a space cadet, but many a times it is because he simply doesn't like being told what to do. He consciously chooses not to listen. Calvin knows best. Go ahead and ask him. I'm sure he would readily agree. And please don't discuss this post with my brother. His opinions on where Calvin gets this trait are not needed or appreciated.

It will come as a surprise to no one that this has become a problem.

I got the dreaded "Parent Contact" phone call the other day. Apparently Calvin and a friend decided to sword fight with pencils, with the purpose of the game being to stab the other in the stomach. The teacher caught them doing this and told them to stop. Calvin, knowing that he knew better, continued the stabbing.

Thankfully, no one got hurt. I had 3 hours to craft his punishment in my mind before he got off the bus. He got to spend the entire afternoon and evening in his room, with dinner as the only break (though I was very tempted to scoot stale bread under the door crack). No more of his favorite iPhone game, and he had to write a letter of apology to the teacher.

I have no idea if any of this will make one whit of difference.

It really sucks when your kids take your own personality flaws and craft them into a whole new art form....