Manditory fun...

Yesterday was a "manditory fun day" at A's work. Yes, gentle reader... you read that right. Manditory Fun Day. It isn't manditory to have fun. It IS manditory to be there. Always, at these things... there are those children who are out of control all around. I'm not talking about special needs children...other than those kids who NEED some serious attention. I'm talking kids who push-other-kids-down-to-get-the-easter-egg-before-the-other-child,-with-no- remorse-whatsoever-type of kids. Yesterday was no exception. In one instance, a mother was talking rather obnoxiously loud to the girl at the table with her about all the talents her children have....How special they are and how unique they are. Even tho this mensa shoe-in is not passing school...it isn't because he isn't smart... it's just he feels the homework is too boring, thus doesn't feel he needs to do it. For some reason, there is a moment, when my internal self shuts off in situations like these. I cannot stand to listen to it..especially when I see that "Jr." isn't all that bright... just willfull. This conversation initiated a conversation instigated by my kids. I love these teaching moments. Anyway--- Later on, this same mother was shouting at her child to go get his shoes from the playground. I quickly bet J 20 extra situps, that before they left... that the child would refuse, and the mother would give in and get them herself. 30 minutes later--after the mother counted to 10 several times, threatened bodily harm, and screamed obscenities... the mom was walking over to the playground to get the shoes..while Jr. ran to the merry-go-round... laughing and playing with his friends. We joked about the extra sit ups... but more importantly, it opened up a huge conversation with my kids on just where disciplining is more than just spanking or threatening etc. Thank heavens for these teaching moments.

“Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.” ~~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.