Emory Goes to the Principal’s Office
Last Thursday I wrote a blog post about light fixtures and shared it on my Facebook page. Adding in a little intro about the crazy week it had been – specifically that our youngest child, Emory – the Pre-K-er – had been sent to the Principal’s office at school earlier in the week.
A couple of friends commented about the lovely light fixtures, but that they really wanted to know the story behind Emory’s visit with the Principal.
So Here Goes…
Emory is our third child. Let’s just pause there for a moment. Anyone with three children knows that the third child is the wild/fun/crazy/fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kid. And Emory is no exception.
As a little fella at daycare he had a daily habit of taking something from an older sibling’s classroom down to his own classroom. The teachers never minded, just requested that I bring said item back, which always allowed me to get additional steps in that day.
On occasion he would come home with something in his bag or pocket that we would question it’s original whereabouts. His older brother and sister consistently ratted him out, exclaiming he’d stolen it from school.
You see the pattern here?
Things Haven’t Changed
As many of you know we started a new school in the fall, one where all three children attend and so it is most convenient for our busy family. One small caveat is that this new school means new teachers and they weren’t aware of Emory’s cleptomaniac tendancies.
The Parent-Teacher Conference
In November we had a parent-teacher conference with Emory’s teacher and while academically everything is going very well for him, he had an issue. Towards the end of our meeting time she made a face and said that while it had only happened twice, she saw it becoming a trend and felt the need to bring it up.
“He likes to slip things into his pocket…” she started.
Ah, yes.
Andrew and I looked at each other and sort of laughed.
“You have to keep your eyes on that one.” we may have jest.
Bless His Sweet Heart
We had a talk with him that afternoon, reiterating how stealing isn’t okay.
Fast forward to January which started a new year, but not a new Emory. Maybe a week into being back at school he came home with some lovely rocks that he claimed he found on the playground. Let me just say that the playground at his school has turf on it…so there are no rocks, much less pretty, shiny rocks like the ones he brought home.
In typical fashion his older siblings claimed he’d stolen them from the science lab. After taking a photo of them and texting the teacher, we confirmed he had in fact lied to us about the situation.
From Stealing to Lying
We have a full-fledge felon in the making. White collar crimes are in his future if we don’t make some serious adjustments…and soon.
The next day at school he lied to his teacher about said rocks, where he’d found them, etc. She was not amused and so we reminded him of how Jesus expects him to act…especially when no one is watching.
Scary.
Jesus sees everything. Even when you think NO ONE is watching. Jesus sees.
Jail
We thought we’d had a break through. We thought he had grasped the concept of ‘you don’t want anyone coming in your room and taking your things, so don’t go in your teacher’s room and take her things.’
I got a call from the Principal. I adore her. She is kind and lovely. Even when your kid is the one sitting in her office LYING about what he’s STOLEN.
Death By Hershey Kisses
I blame it on the 100 days of schoool. I’m tired. You’re tired. Too many lessons to be learned.
This may be the biggest one of all.
From what I understood that day, the teacher brought in a massive bag of Kisses to celebrate 100 days of school. She divided them among the children equally. And there were leftovers. LEFTOVERS that were left out on the desk nonetheless.
It was too much for Emory. His appointed 6 kisses were not enough. He couldn’t contain himself. His fingers were too sticky. He’s a chocolate addict I forgot to tell you.
HE STOLE 2 KISSES from the leftovers.
And then he LIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At lunch the teacher noticed that not only did Emory have the six given to him, but there were two more.
Think Fast
He said he couldn’t remember where he’d gotten them. Then claimed I had packed them in his lunchbox that day.
Facts:
- I don’t pack the lunch boxes, Daddy does
- Hershey Kisses have not ever been, nor are they ever his choice treat
So when the lovely Principal called me on speaker phone that day, with Emory in her presence, inquiring about the kisses, I walked over to where Daddy was in our office and asked him about what was packed that day. Knowing full well that there were NO kisses sent to school with this red-headed bandit.
After I’d muted my side conversation I confirmed to both the Principal and my youngest whipper-snapper that Daddy had indeed NOT packed Hershey Kisses in the lunchbox that day.
Caught
He may have changed his story a couple of times, claiming he’d forgotten or couldn’t remember what really happened. But he was steadfast in his stubborn relinquishment of the truth. He couldn’t do it, nor would he.
Lesson Learned? Maybe. Hopefully.
The Principal called me a little later, after the Kisses-snatcher was returned to his classroom, to say that they’d spent some good time together. She kept all the Kisses in her office, with the promise of returning them a few days later if he could show a pattern of keeping his hands in his pockets and his lips speaking truth.
I know this is a cliff-hanger for you all, but wait just a few more sentences.
On the Home-Front
Because lessons like this must be learned both at school and maybe more importantly at home, Emory had his own consequences to deal with from his parents.
You can imagine how I felt on the phone that day with the Principal. There was no warning of ‘this is about to happen’, it happened. In my own pride I was slightly embarrased for this to have occurred. In my own heart, of course it would be Emory – the last of the three kids. None of the others have ever been sent to the Principal’s office. He is the FIRST. And he’s in PRE-K!
Emory, my lover of all things sweet, missed out on desserts for three nights. We told him, “don’t even ask for it, this is your punishment. And, you must earn it back.”
He passed our test.
But the Hardest Part of All Was Fessing Up
The night of this incident, Andrew sat him down at the dining room table. He turned Emory’s chair sideways, as he did his own chair and looked him face-to-face. He asked Emory to tell the truth.
He couldn’t do it. He cried. He struggled. He kept saying everything but what had actually happened that day.
Whatever prayer that had been prayed was finally answered, because after about an hour {y’all.}, Emory finally found the bravery to tell the truth.
He walked Andrew through the disbursement of the original six Hershey Kisses. Then he told him how tempting the bag on the desk was and that he just wanted more….
That’s Where We All Get Caught
Just one more. Noone will know.
But the truth always finds us out. And he was relieved when he finally let it all out. Bless his heart. He cried but then he smiled when the relief washed over his little body.
We praised him for finally fessing up, and reminded him that though it may be hard, it’s always better to tell the truth.
And for those still hanging off the cliff, he DID earn back his Kisses. But only the six.
I hope you enjoyed this little tale…