After BB and I picked up CNN and MC from school, we had a few stops to make.  It was rough at first.  MC can be pretty grouchy during the transition from school to home.  Having him snuggled between his brother and sister doesn’t always help this process.  I got them a snack, and we were off.  Everything settled down and things were rolling right along.  MC even did his homework with CNN helping!  It was during this session and as they were wrapping up that golden jewels fell out of his mouth…I kid you not.  I was so transfixed watching him in the rear view mirror and listening to the tale he was telling, it is a wonder I didn’t have a mishap!  He and his sister must have been looking through the papers he brought home.  I hear him say, “Hey, CNN!  I did a funny thing today…of course…Mom will be mad at me, so I probably shouldn’t say…” 

I look back in the mirror to see his hands propped behind his head (relaxed big man on campus style) and this huge shit eating grin on his face.  He does not make eye contact, but he totally knows his mama is listening.  He continues…

“Ok, I will tell you…you see this paper right here?  See on the back?  Mrs. B wrote that I forgot to do it, but I didn’t forget…I JUST DIDN’T WANT TO…and so I DIDN’T!!!!   Isn’t that great?  You know, sometimes you just don’t feel like doing something…I didn’t want to do that…and so I didn’t.  She thinks I forgot – nope.  Just didnt do it.  She got mad allright.  Asked me to finish my paper.   When she walked away…I put it away.  I didn’t do it!  HA!”

At this point, I ask him if he is ready to complete it now…he said he didn’t need to…that he wasn’t supposed to take it back…I said, finish…and he said ok…I guess his defiant moment for the day was still carrying him through this minor setback.  The funny thing is, as he started to do it…his sister told him an answer, and he replied “NO CNN, I have to do it myself or I will get in really big trouble with my teacher!!”.

The teacher in me should frown at his willful defiance…maybe?  I guess the mama in me should frown too…perhaps?  Gotta fess up…it was all I could do to not completely join him in the grin of joy.  He is such a protocol kid…to distraction…to madness – of himself and others around him.  At this point in the school year, to hear him feel ok about hearing what he was supposed to do and realize he does get to decide if he will do that or not?  This is beautiful.

Of course, if it happens again, we will have to talk…