Verity's Adventures in Grade 1

Grade One is three months in and Verity is in full swing. She has had many adventures in her exciting new class. I thought I might share a few hair greying moments.

She has already been a visitor to the office... I picked her up from school that day and not two steps outside she looks up at me and says. "Mom, I have to tell you something and it's very bad..." I looked at her and she said "I got sent to the Principal's office Mommy, DON'T BE MAD!"

Apparently there is a 4 strikes rule in her classroom and she felt the need to test it. In reality there was no big offense, just an accumulation of little ones. Lost her toys for a week though.

We've had tp make several trips back to the school for forgotten coats, mitts, hats, shoes... The list goes on.

I had a letter from the teacher telling me this little story.

Verity has been asking the teachers during recess to go to the bathroom. Once inside Verity decides to spend the rest of the recess in there. She is disrespecting the teachers by not returning outside, having them worry about what happened to her. Please discuss with her the subject of respecting authority.

Well when I asked Verity about this I found it hard to be mad at my crafty little 6 year old. "Well Mom, it is really cold outside, and my hands were freezing. I go inside to stay warm. Why can't I do that?"

As much as I can appreciate that we took her bathroom privileges away at recess and before school. Damn parenting.

There was also the bus incident. Stacey phoned me one day asking me if Verity was on the bus. I was worried because the bus was quite late and Stacey wanted to verify that she was on the bus that day. It turns out, the bus driver, Shelley, had to stop several times because Verity wouldn't listen or stay in her seat. My god, does it end. Lost her TV privileges for that one.

And most recently was yet another note from her teacher:

Verity only received 2/5 on her latest spelling test because she looked at her agenda to spell the first 2 words.

Of course Verity's response to that one was "Mom, I didn't know we were allowed to peak..."

After a deatly look in her direction I got "What if I forgot that she said we couldn't look?" Well, we are running out of things to take away.

On the bright side, Verity is reading in front of some fellow students and parents in the library at lunch today. When I reminded her this morning, she started to cry...

"Mom I can't read very well. I am really nervous." Tears rolling her down her face.

I asked her how she was picked for this task because only 2 Grade One students were chosen, "The teacher asked us and I put up my hand." I just didn't know what she was asking because she said it in french." Oh lordy, that's my girl, act first, think later.

I love that girl with all my heart because it's this adventure that keeps me young. Let's see what the next three months brings.