Heather began teaching her graduate class for this semester – 4 – 7. Which means I am at home for kids, dinner and beginning to get them ready for bed. Note: I get it easy – Heather determines what is for dinner. The first week of classes has always been a rough transition for all of us, but we’re getting through. The kids asked a lot where is mommy; I said that until Christmas she does this every week. The were not sad, but also not happy about this development in our scheduling.
While I prepped tomato soup with parmesan sprinkled over and grilled cheese, the kids played around me. The shredded parmesan is in a bit plastic jar that I just opened and set on the counter waiting for the hot soup. The toaster over is warming up, I get sliced cheddar out and make sandwiches. I turn and put the cheese sandwiches into the toaster oven when I hear:
Crash – and what sounds like a pound of shredded parmesan hitting the floor. Turns out it was only a cup, but that’s still a lot of cheese. And with Owen standing over it looking very guilty. I “asked” (read between the lines here) him what happened and he explained:
“I wanted to eat the cheese, but when I saw you turning around I didn’t want you to see me put my hands in the cheese so I took them out quickly and knocked over the jar.”
Thank goodness for that amazing openness and honesty – let’s just hold on to that for the next 20 years. I made him clean up the floor while I cleaned up the counter. I made him apologize, but didn’t come down on him too hard. As he was cleaning up the floor he said:
“I sure am glad mommy is teaching tonight!”
Thank goodness it’s a plastic jar! And good on Owen for his honesty and taking responsibility.
– KMV
A child messing up, confessing, apologizing and being honest about how he’s feeling is a sign of good parenting.