Arrrrgggghhhh!

I totally lost my cool with a student today.  During a do-nothing ungraded class (don't get me started!), he apparently took the contents of the electric pencil sharpener cup and dumped it into the quilted lunch bag of a student who wasn't even in that class.  He thought better of it and dumped it into the wastebasket...but there was graphite dust all over everything...including the little can "cozy" that the other student had crocheted himself and was proud of...

I came unglued.  I screamed at him, "What gives you the right to do something to someone else's property?  Wipe that grin off your face or you are out of here!  Who died and made you God so that you have the authority to mess up something that is important to someone else?  Is it cool?  Did you do it because you thought you could get away with something?  Are you showing off for your friends?  Is it mature?  Perhaps you don't think anyone else is as cool as you are!  Get out of my classroom!  Go to the office!

I marched down to the office after him to explain to the principal why he had been sent.  While there, he teared up.  He was made to clean up the lunchbag and apologize to the owner of it.  I told him, finally, that I was not going to write him up.  He tearfully thanked me.  Why didn't I write him up?  I think he had been raked over the coals enough.  After I was done with my tirade, I actually felt sorry for him!  This isn't a bad kid, but he sure hasn't put much into his middle school career.  I hope the other kids figured out that I am done with Stupid Stuff.  It sound easy but is actually exhausting!

I stayed late after school to work with a Sophomore who has a major English project due tomorrow.  We probably needed another week to work on it, but such is life.  Good luck, Rebecca!

I arrived home not too long before Meg and the children.  It seems that they are all ready to eat, no matter what the stage of food preparation!  Each day, one or the other of the grandchildren arrive home in a bad mood.  (?)  After dinner, things tend to settle down.  BOTH kids needed baths tonight.  They come home filthy from the day care! 

Robin and Ryan both establish their own bedtime routines.  Neither wants baths or bed, but both need the attention.  We manage.  The children do get a nap atMiss Shelly's, so I don't feel TOO bad when they get to bed late.

There is a circus in Mooresville this weekend.  We are going!  Have only told the children that it's a "surprise."  Grandma Judy may join us. 

Time to hit the sheets.  Nightie!