This morning, the Wife tried to get one up on the boy. His teacher had sent a note home asking parents to remind their kids to quiet down during the lunch line. The boy was on the defensive immediately, if not sooner.
“I’m not loud! It’s the other kids…” he started.
I’d anticipated his defensiveness as soon as the Wife had finished her question. I quickly jumped in to the fray, calmly stating “You aren’t in trouble, no one is yelling at you…” It can be exhausting working to circumvent his defensive tendencies. Lately, everything that falls short of glowing praise means we are yelling at him or he’s in trouble, according to him. It’s ridiculous, he of all kids should know when he’s really in trouble.
Anyway, he retorted “If I’m not in trouble then why are you saying something?”
See what I mean?
Then he continued “Besides, I know who the kids are that make us late too lunch. It’s these 2 girls who have to go to the bathroom everyday and take forever.”
I smiled at that and snarked “Yeah, well, get used to it.”
That made the Wife chuckle, she said “Yeah, 3rd grade is about right…”
Just 2 more years for the lass then.