This morning, as I was trying to pack lunches through the brain fog caused by not having consumed enough of the sweet, sweet Starbucks nectar, I discovered someone had eaten the lunch “goodies”.
This is a bad thing. Lunch “goodies” are for lunch, and kept in the basket on top of the pantry, out of reach of the casual grazer. Punishment for eating food set aside for lunches was grave—I would complain and moan until all within hearing wished I would just go ahead and water board, instead. So, it worked fine, usually. Usually…
The most obvious culprit was my son. Because, let me be honest; the kid’s a snacker. He likes snacks. He likes snacks like clowns love killing. (As we all know, clowns are deadly). He’s also, apparently, a bottomless pit, who grew an inch and half taller in the last month and a half. He’s a growing boy, fast eating us out of house and home.
So, I interrogated asked him. And to my surprise, he got that look our dog gets when you leave the room and come back to catch him with his nose in your coffee mug. (It is nectar, after all)
Which was right and good of him to tell the truth. I could then only complain at half-intensity. Not very satisfying, but it didn’t stop me, because, in my defense…I really needed more caffeine to have full self-control that early in the morning. So I kept nagging, as I shoved carrots and juice boxes into bags.
That’s when his little sister Georgia entered the kitchen, also with the thieving puppy face, and said,
“Mom, he’s just covering for me. I did it. I ate the crackers.”
And on it went...
They were like those Disney Chipmunk’s, Chip and Dale… ‘No, no I insist.’ ‘No, No, I must insist.’ ‘Please, allow me…’ back and forth. It was all very discombobulating, as I had no one to aim my grumpy at. My grumpy needs a target, kids!
I looked at both of them, and saw they were both telling the truth…the sticky-fingered little rats!
At different times they had each taken a snack from the basket. But I was stuck with the fact that they had both made a choice to be honest, and not allow the other to take the fall for what they each thought was their own crime. Both of them were willing to face the music at Mom Court, in order to do the right thing.
Dang it, now what was I going to do? Where did THIS leave my grumpy?!
And once again, I was offered a chance to have a real conversation, using the Core Values as a teachable moment tool.
How many times do you find yourself able to do the same thing? I bet many, many times. This is one of the things I love the most about John Adams Academy! These core values give us something solid and measurable to point to when we teach these character lessons in our home.
Although I have always held a high expectation for behavior, and I am proud to say, they usually meet that expectation, I can honestly say things have even improved since coming to JAA. I have a theory about that; I think it is a good thing to be part of a secular school community that is filled with kids who are learning that to be a good citizen is the “cool thing”.
At our school, these Core Values are the glue that holds them all together. They are all a part of the “Strong Character Club” and it isn’t just a bunch of good ideas that get presented at an assembly once a year, and everyone hopes stick... it is the foundation, the daily walk they take through these doors.
Every day they see them, and learn to live them, and apply the Core Values to their own selves they are building with our help. Every day they become more and more of who they are going to be, and these Core Values are always going to be a part of that person. The cores will be in their minds when they think, and in their guts when they act, and in their hearts when they just know right from wrong.
You know why I really had to quit moaning, and put the kibosh on the grumpy? Yep. Model what I Teach. I’m learning, too.
By Amber Harris
John Adams Academy Parent
This is a bad thing. Lunch “goodies” are for lunch, and kept in the basket on top of the pantry, out of reach of the casual grazer. Punishment for eating food set aside for lunches was grave—I would complain and moan until all within hearing wished I would just go ahead and water board, instead. So, it worked fine, usually. Usually…
The most obvious culprit was my son. Because, let me be honest; the kid’s a snacker. He likes snacks. He likes snacks like clowns love killing. (As we all know, clowns are deadly). He’s also, apparently, a bottomless pit, who grew an inch and half taller in the last month and a half. He’s a growing boy, fast eating us out of house and home.
So, I interrogated asked him. And to my surprise, he got that look our dog gets when you leave the room and come back to catch him with his nose in your coffee mug. (It is nectar, after all)
"I’m sorry mom."
Which was right and good of him to tell the truth. I could then only complain at half-intensity. Not very satisfying, but it didn’t stop me, because, in my defense…I really needed more caffeine to have full self-control that early in the morning. So I kept nagging, as I shoved carrots and juice boxes into bags.
That’s when his little sister Georgia entered the kitchen, also with the thieving puppy face, and said,
“Mom, he’s just covering for me. I did it. I ate the crackers.”
“No, you didn’t. I did it,” he said.
“No, Wyatt. It’s ok. I did it,” she countered.
And on it went...
They were like those Disney Chipmunk’s, Chip and Dale… ‘No, no I insist.’ ‘No, No, I must insist.’ ‘Please, allow me…’ back and forth. It was all very discombobulating, as I had no one to aim my grumpy at. My grumpy needs a target, kids!
“Ok!” I jumped in. “Enough!”
I looked at both of them, and saw they were both telling the truth…the sticky-fingered little rats!
At different times they had each taken a snack from the basket. But I was stuck with the fact that they had both made a choice to be honest, and not allow the other to take the fall for what they each thought was their own crime. Both of them were willing to face the music at Mom Court, in order to do the right thing.
Dang it, now what was I going to do? Where did THIS leave my grumpy?!
“I am still angry. You guys both broke the rules. You know better. I don’t want to see it happen again. But I am also pleased… Do you know why?”
“Because we told the truth,” came the man-boy.
“We showed Public and Private Virtue! Oh yeah!” said the little one, doing a happy-dance shuffle.
And once again, I was offered a chance to have a real conversation, using the Core Values as a teachable moment tool.
How many times do you find yourself able to do the same thing? I bet many, many times. This is one of the things I love the most about John Adams Academy! These core values give us something solid and measurable to point to when we teach these character lessons in our home.
Although I have always held a high expectation for behavior, and I am proud to say, they usually meet that expectation, I can honestly say things have even improved since coming to JAA. I have a theory about that; I think it is a good thing to be part of a secular school community that is filled with kids who are learning that to be a good citizen is the “cool thing”.
At our school, these Core Values are the glue that holds them all together. They are all a part of the “Strong Character Club” and it isn’t just a bunch of good ideas that get presented at an assembly once a year, and everyone hopes stick... it is the foundation, the daily walk they take through these doors.
Every day they see them, and learn to live them, and apply the Core Values to their own selves they are building with our help. Every day they become more and more of who they are going to be, and these Core Values are always going to be a part of that person. The cores will be in their minds when they think, and in their guts when they act, and in their hearts when they just know right from wrong.
You know why I really had to quit moaning, and put the kibosh on the grumpy? Yep. Model what I Teach. I’m learning, too.
By Amber Harris
John Adams Academy Parent
