N ended up staying home one more day because he wasn't too steady on his feet, and he had a funky cough that kept him tossing and turning for most of the night. I went to wake him up to go to school anyway, but then I had pity on him. Plus, it was really cold outside this morning, and I was dang cozy under my covers. I don't typically condone that kind of logic, but did I mention it was really cold this morning, and my car wasn't parked anywhere remotely close to my door?
I'm sure that totally makes it more reasonable.
Anyway, I went to pick up some of N's make up work this afternoon, and on the way out, the principal caught up to me and asked me how N was feeling. Please note that I've met the principal one time, on "Meet the Teacher" night, (we had exchanged emails prior to that, but never spoken) and when I gave him my name, he immediately knew the boys' names and their grades. It just warms my heart to know that my boys are in a school where the staff takes time to get to know them because they WANT to, and not because they're in trouble all the time...because they're not. They seem to save getting in trouble for at home. I'm so lucky!
After I got back from picking up his make up work, we started working on it, and I felt a quick moment of panic when I saw a math worksheet. Math has never been my favorite. Ever. It never will be, and I will feel extremely sorry for my boys when their levels of math comprehension surpass my own. I'm pretty sure it'll happen...if it doesn't, well, that would just be a little pathetic. Luckily, it was only a "Correct and Return" paper, and it was one simple mistake that he made repeatedly. I can handle simple mistakes...as long as I can figure them out.
N decided he wanted to go to Gamestop, and I wasn't in agreement...so he hovered. And he hovered. And he hovered a little bit more. He didn't ask, because he knows better, but he just stood there and looked at me. Finally, as I was about to burst from holding in my laughter for so long, this exchange occurred:
N: Please, Mom? Can we go somewhere...anywhere?
Me: Sure, Nolan. Would you like to go underwear shopping with me, or maybe dress shopping? Oh, I need some cute new shoes. How about that?
N (death glare): NEVERMIND. We always do what you want to do.
Me: Funny how that works...I'm the one with the car. You're the one that's 10. Okay, then.
N: This sucks!
Me: Don't say sucks.
N: I'm so bored.
Me: If you don't find something to do, I can find something for you...and I guarantee you won't like it.
And, as N stomped off to his room to find something to do, I realized I had turned into my parents...and then I laughed at myself because, if you can't laugh at yourself, you have no sense of humor.
Later, I made dinner and he came into the kitchen as I was finishing, and this exchange occurred:
N: You didn't wash the dirty clothes, did you?
Me: Do you want to ask me politely instead of being a jerk?
N: Mom, did you find time to wash the dark clothes, or do I need to figure out how to start the washing machine?
Me: Better, but I'd cut the smart-ass level in half if you want a real response...but yes, I did wash the dark clothes.
(a few minutes later)
N: No you didn't! My jersey and DCE shorts are still dirty.
Me: Uh, you mean the clothes you were wearing when you were sick? Those? The ones you took off and shoved under your bed? I already told you...I'll do the laundry if it's in the right place, but I'm not going on a dirty clothes hunt, and I'm DEFINITELY not digging under your bed. It smells weird.
N: Mom, I need these for tomorrow.
Me: Dude, I can wash them. Chill. You're driving me nuts.
So, I started the laundry and we sat down to eat dinner, and that's when the fun began:
Me: So...you know you're not wearing shorts to school tomorrow, right?
N: MOOOOOOOOOOOOM! I hate jeans. They feel weird, and my legs never get cold.
Me: Let me be clear. I. Don't. Care. You just missed 3 days of school being sick. You were in bed for 5 days straight. You're not wearing shorts to school. Why don't I just make you a sign saying, "Hey pneumonia, let's be friends!"
N: I don't even know what that means, but it gets hot at recess.
Me: It doesn't get hot at recess when it's 30 something degrees. Nice try. You're wearing jeans.
N: I should be allowed to make my own clothing choices.
Me: Right, I agree...but not when you're unreasonable. And you're being unreasonable. It's W-I-N-T-E-R. It's cold. It's flu season. You're not wearing shorts. The end.
N: I hate my life.
Me: No, you just hate being 10. It's cool...you'll be 11 in August, and we'll do the same thing, only maybe you'll be more interested in the breakaway pants I offered to buy you in October.
N: Yeah, let's go do that now.
Me: Oh, no...That's a one-time deal bud. I offered, you said it was a dumb idea...idea's off the table. No problem.
N: I hate that.
Me: Yeah, but maybe you'll learn...
You'd think the fun would end there...but it didn't. Isn't life at my house so exciting?! After that, I offered to play Super Nintendo with him for a little bit because he's been so bored in his room, recovering from whatever it was that he had. So, we're playing Super Mario World, and I have 90s country going on Pandora. N is not a country fan. I'm not sure where that came from, but all other signs point to him being my child, so I'll deal with it. We played for a while, and I sang along to all of the songs, and then he said it was lame and didn't want to play anymore. Obviously, playing iconic games with your mom is not nearly as fun as blowing people up on the Xbox. Anyway, "This Kiss" was on, and apparently N wasn't a fan. He turned the volume up on the tv to drown out Faith Hill singing her precious little heart out about this super amazing kiss...and then he started gagging, claiming he was going to throw up.
I love mature 10 year olds. I also think he should be grounded on principle. He didn't like my stint with "my" song by Bread, "Aubrey." It's a super sweet song, but the singer does sound kind of ghost-like...I will give N that one. He said, "Mom, it sounds like that guy is haunting people." and I said, "You mean, kinda like I haunt you all the time?"
"Oh crap."
It's been quite a day. Now he's in bed, and his book for school is STILL under the couch, even though I told him to get it out from under there no less than 8 times...and his ipod is on the floor in the living room too. I think I'll confiscate it.
You know, and then haunt him with it later.
Just because I can.
Aubs
No comments:
Post a Comment