Gee, I wonder how my wife got so frustrated today? (She's out and I'm on her computer and I had only a brief talk with her on her way out the door).
Here's a much abridged transcript of a very long conversation with my son so you know exactly, precisely, perfectly clearly what Alex did at school today to get himself into trouble:
Dad: I understand you got a red card at school today...why?
Alex: Because I had a bad day.
Dad: Yeah, I know, but why?
Alex: Because.
Dad: Don't say “Because”. Why did you have a bad day?
Alex: I got a red card.
Dad: Why, what did you do?
Alex: I had a bad day.
Dad: Yeah, I know you had a bad day, but why?
Alex: Because
Dad: Don't say “Because”! Why did you have a bad day?
Alex: I got a red card.
Dad: Why did you get a red card, what did you do?
Alex: I had a bad day.
Dad: Yeah, I know you had a bad day and got a red card! But WHAT DID YOU DO?
Alex: I stood in the bus.
Dad: No, the teacher gave you the red card BEFORE the bus, what did you do at school?
Alex: I had a bad day.
Dad: Yeah, I know, but WHY WAS YOUR DAY AT SCHOOL BAD???
Alex: Because
Dad: DON'T SAY BECAUSE. WHY WAS YOUR DAY AT SCHOOL BAD???
Alex: I got a red card.
Dad: What did you do to get a red card?
Alex: I had a bad day.
Dad: Oh really? What did your teacher say?
Alex: I no listen.
Dad: You didn't listen to your teacher? What did your teacher tell you?
Alex: I no listen.
Dad: Ok. That's pretty clear. Why didn't you listen to your teacher?
Alex: Because.
Dad: I said don't say “because”. If you say “because” one more time as a full answer, I'm going to punish you. Did your teacher say something to you?
Alex: Yes.
Dad: What did she say?
Alex: I had a bad day.
Dad: Oh...Did she say anything else?
Alex: I got a red card.
Dad: Ok. DON'T SAY ,”Because”; DON'T SAY “I had a bad day”, DON'T SAY “I got a red card”, and DON'T SAY, “I no listen”. What else did your teacher tell you?
Alex: I had a bad day.
Dad: [long pause] You did???????? I'm sorry, me too. Tomorrow will be a good day though, okay?
Alex: Okay. [long pause] Sorry daddy.
26 inspiring thoughts:
Oh! that is so precious. And, I am sure it seemed that way to you at the time, too.
ha ha ha ha, sounds like the conversations around my house!
awwwww. it's cute - since it wasn't a conversation at my house. then it wouldn't have been as cute. :) hope tomorrow is better for all!
You get a DADDY GOLD STAR of the day!!!!
You handled this much better than I did, if it makes you feel any better.
http://expressmom.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/time-to-start-sign-language-classes/
How can you argue with that?!?! Hope tomorrow is better!
Ahahah that's just hilarious! I hope tomorrow is better. :)
Very funny! I have had a few of those conversations myself. At least he understood he had a bad day! Hope he has a better day tomorrow!
Oh my GOSH!!!
I have that SAME conversation with my 4 year old EVERY day.
In our house it is not precious or cute, it is FRUSTRATING! lol
Admittedly, I am giggling over this conversation. He is such a precious kid and I am not sure he is "getting" it. LOL
Hahaha! This made me laugh out loud! :)
LOL!!!!
That cracks me up - but, you know, as a teacher I can just imagine telling a child he "had a bad day" and PRESUMING that he could list the whys and wherefores without my having to do so..... But so often our expectations and the children's are not at all the same; there is a communication gap and we need to take the time to be clear with the kids so the parents have some hope at home!
I thought it was plain to see, he had a bad day BECAUSE! LOL bless his heart.
Sounds like a conversation I'd have with Isabel!
I think you need to post this on on facebook......... many can relate. I like the ending.
Bwaaaahaahaa! I laugh, because I relate. It sounds like way too many conversations around here. ;)
Sometimes you really do just have a bad day. :) I'm glad you were able to reassure him at the end that tomorrow would be better.
This brings back SOOOO many memories! My son, internationally adopted at the age of 7, did this to me and my husband for the first couple of years of living in the states. He truly did not understand the question "Why?". Once we figured that out, we played with our questioning to pull an answer out of him :-)
Oh man, I have the exact same convo with Q...Daily.. except there is no apology at the end. He's very sneaky about telling us anything that "might" have happened. I could write a book!
With Alex, this actually sounds sweet, but with Q, not so much :-) Trust Me!!
I guess you just had to laugh in the end! He seemed pretty clear on the fact that he had a bad day:-)
poor kid was badgered enough..geesh..
..my son who has a speech delay, will often have bad days..but the teacher writes it in the book..so when we talk about it i already know why he has had a rough day.
..Damien also has processing issues..i sometimes forget..this conversation you had with your son is a great reminder for me not to badger Damien.. He sometimes seems unresponsive but it's because he is slowly processing everything.
Love this conversion. Like talking to any young child!!
It's only funny because it's not me I work at a elementary school, and my conversations go like this...go flip your card... why...because you just hit him...no I didn't....I saw you! Go flip your card...why do I have to flip my card...
Hi! A conversation like this with a child seems normal especially when they are in the hot seat. Blessings, Pat
It sounds like the teacher did not share with him exactly why he was getting a red card. Just that he "had a bad day". I find that happes often, especially with young, inexperienced teachers or wtih teachers who have no experience with children outside of a classroom. (Said as a teacher myself).
Your child was simply giving you all the info he had at the time. I'm glad you realized it in the end.
ok, now who's on third?? he, he Love the conversation and especially the ending! :)
Post a Comment