 |
poop beetle: box-tops for education & other kid stuff
3.2004
This is from an email I sent last summer. I'd meant to post, was asked to post- but forgot.
This morning Awais stuck Mr. Potato Head on the
end of a broom and walked (perhaps even marched?)
around with it in the back yard. That creeped me
out a bit- but what're you going to say?
Later he brought the Mr. P apparatus inside and
tried to stick it in the revolving ceiling fan.
That I felt comfortable putting a stop to.
This is more recent.
A few weeks ago Awais was working on his homework- yes, in Kindergarten- quite a lot. It is apparently a big part of the "leave no child behind" campaign and preparation for testing they'll have a few years from now, the results of which will play a part in how much funding the school gets.
(I tell myself it's ok if I'm slack about the various fund raisers- holiday wrapping paper, Campbell soup labels etc. etc. My kid will help drive up their scores- I did my part for the community by bearing a brilliant child.
I also save box tops, although I've yet to get them turned in. Sorry. Always so sorry. A constant apology.
Vote Democrat, people!)
So, he's working on his homework and he says "Mom! . . . Mom! . . . Mom! I've made up a new word!".
And I say "hmmmm? What?" Oh yeah?"- like I do way too often lately. (focus- the child is speaking to you, every moment is precious- the butt head jokes/ the plot to "Invader Zim" / the questions about evaporation).
"oh, yeah?" I ask.
"Ohhhh. Yeah."- he tells me- which always makes me laugh, the way he says it.
(What's this generation going to be like? The kids raised by the kids for whom irony and smart-ass-edness still hold an appeal? It's not like I'm consciously trying to mold him into some Seinfeld character, but my reactions which often become reinforcements- they're there. . often subtle and I don't realize what I've done till I hear a word or phrase or tone repeated back to me. Of course sometimes it's not so subtle as in the case of "You're not the boss of me!" In as casual a way as possible, so it doesn't become a big deal & thus sure to happen-I suggest he not use that one at school)
"A new word? Cool. What is it? (cool is now like "great"- My own mom uses "cool" also the principal at the local grade school- the new kids will have to come up with something else- something cooler than "cool"- I wonder what it'll be? I wonder if it will make me flinch? That'd be cool.)
The word, he tells me, is "Persevere".
"What?" - now he's got my total attention.
"Persevere" he repeats. "Do you like it?"
"That's great, Awais! That's a great word! Where did you hear that? Do you know what it means?"
"I just made it up" He tells me- "it doesn't mean anything".
"Oh, no-honey- (and now I'm all excited and a dither- cause isn't that smart? Not even six years old. So dang smart- brilliant, brilliant kid- stupid teachers don't recognize his brilliance cause he can't seem to organize his cubby- idiots, I wonder if the most recent citizen of the week knows the word "persevere"? Not likely.)
. . . it IS a real word. And it's what you're doing right now, working so hard on your homework. You're working at it and sometimes it's hard, but you keep going . . . you're "persever-ing"!
"No." He tells me, with the patience of one speaking to the mentally disabled.
"It does NOT mean that. I havn't decided what it means. Cause I just NOW made the word up!"
"Honey. It is a word. And that is what it means".
"no it doesn't"
"yes it does"
"no it does NOT!"
"Awais- I'm big. I'm old. I know how to read- I know what that word means. You've got to trust me on this one."
"Well, you don't know EVERYTHING!"
"No. I do not. But I know that word."
"hmpff- but not every-thing in the world!"
"That is true. Get to that homework, boy. Persevere!"
"And you're not the boss of me" he adds - and grins, because he knows I may then tickle him or kiss him, or give him candy.
"Actually", I say. "I am."
