Aaaahh, Young Love

Well, it certainly isn't always easy. There are times when I fail miserably as a father, but I learn from my mistakes, and I remember them so I don't make them again.

Abbey's teacher sends home a report with her every day. The report shows how she was in school that day. Every part of the day is given either a happy face, an "okay" face, or a frownie face. I decided that I would ground her one day for every frownie face she gets, so that she could learn what behavior is acceptable, and what isn't.

The other day she got a frownie face for fighting. April told me that she talked to her teacher, and was told that a little girl was trying take Abbey's name tag, was pulling at her hair, and scratching her face. Abbey went and told the teacher without retaliating, but the teacher still gave her a frownie face because, and I quote, "I don't like fighting".

I was furious. I was screaming at April on the phone "Is this woman a fucking moron? Does she not understand that I take this seriously, and that if I don't punish her in some way for the frownie face that I am going to seem inconsistent, and it will appear that I don't have any faith in her teacher (which I don't)?" I was really upset. Then a question popped into my head. Why am I taking this seriously? She's five. She's in Kindergarten, and I'm punishing her based on a funny faces formula. Do i really want to put the stress of having a daily report that could get her in trouble on her? Do I want her to dread seeing me come home from work every night because she is going to have to deal with this? She's fucking five, and she's going to make mistakes. THIS IS NOT NECESSARY.

Anyway, I do my best. Sometimes my best isn't good enough, but I try really hard. I love that kid more than I could ever describe, and I will fight, kick, and claw to give her a happy, fulfilling life.

Oh Lord, I had the same sheets when I was her age. And the Zero Tolerance policy fucked me over in high school too.

Yay for the US's pathetic educational system.

For what it's worth, I think you're giving Abbey more now than what the parents of the other children will give their children by the end of high school.

She was really cute yesterday, too. She and I walked up to the Big Boy (family restaurant) where we both had french toast, pumpkin pie, and hot chocolate. On the way back she looks at me, and says "Brrr. I'm so cold I can't feel my boobs". This startles me. I tell her "Abbey, you don't have boobs". "Yes, I do", she says. "No. You don't", I reply. "Those won't come until you're older". "When I'm six?", she asks. I tell her "No. More like eleven or twelve". "But that's ooooold" is her reply.

Turn your life into a dramatic sitcom. Please.