Parenting 101

Parenting* (like any behavior modification/management) is all about follow through. If you're going to threaten it, you better be able to actually live up to your threats.

Which is why I'm not questioning my neighbor tonight. She threatened to throw her 8 year old son out of her house if he didn't start acting right. And she did. For approximately 5 minutes, homeboy was pounding on the door telling her he'd straighten up.

Way to go, neighbor.

You threatened, he challenged, you followed through. Nice work.

Now if you could only control his screaming at you at 9:30 at night when I'm trying to watch reality t.v., that would be greatly appreciated. Or convince my management company to do something about the thin walls..

*I'm not a parenting expert, obviously. I just calls it like I sees it.

Phew.

Today I ran a 5k. Without any training. Seriously, zero training. Unless you count tossing back a few beers last night or chasing the dog in the yard.

I ran it in 37 minutes with a 9 year old girl by my side.

It was 34 degrees. I was cold.

Now I"m inspired. I just need to get some cold weather running pants. Any runners out there who may have some suggestions? I wore Under Armor leggings with cotton pants over them and I was cold. I don't know if it was because it was really windy or what. But it was COLD.

Thoughts?

Cartwheels

I may or may not have done cartwheels all the way down the hallway today.

Apparently way back at the beginning of the school year (when I was desperate, I'm sure) I made the bold statement that I would do cartwheels all the way down the hallway if all of my kids had a level 1 day. (Levels are part of our behavior program and level 1 is the best) And yes, I'm fully aware that rewards for an entire group of students is really a bad idea, but our kids get lots of positive rewards for individual behavior and I was really hopeful that something so off the wall would really encourage them to encourage others to make good choices. Either that, or, I was losing my mind and I was really desperate.

Either way.. today, we all earned level 1's and I did cartwheels all.the.way.down.the.hallway. We're talking about 50 yards. That's a lot of cartwheels.

My kids watched. My principals watched. Everyone cheered. It was awesome.

Except when I thought I was going to puke when it was all done because I was dizzy as a .. well.. whatever is something that is super dizzy.

But, I'd do it all over again to see their faces. I really am proud of those little kiddos. We've come a long way together and I'm glad we were able to celebrate. Wonder how many parents are rolling their eyes thinking, "No way your teacher did cartwheels down the hallway."! Ha!