Oops my last post was about providing my credit card details for a monthly donation to Save The Children so in case you don’t read further – this post has nothing to do with that ok. I just got bamboozled by my offspring.
- Cmere you little crook
So I bustle out of the bedroom after changing (Rockstar and I are going to school together, it’s my volunteer slot yay!) only to find a groggy Rockstar on the sofa with an apparent tummy ache. I don’t doubt for a second it’s real, because normally I have to insist he stay home if he has a cold or fever, it’s even been great motivation for him to remember not to touch his face with his hands while at school (tho I took some flak from the mum in law about him rubbing his nose with the back of his hand because it “looks like a bad habit”). He’d been drowsing, not wanting to eat for the last hour, he always acts up a little on days we’re in school together right before he goes on his best behavior so I figure this is more of the same.
(I also think How Sick Is He, this is a child who normally doesn’t cry when he gets shots at the doc’s and is so proud of school I’ve had to read his entire end-of-K1 report out to him several times, he’s giving up school for this?)
Back to bed we go, after I call the school and our part-time driver.
30 minutes in and I start getting suspicious. The Rockstar is being erm, “excessively affectionate”. Normally I only get “I love you mum” with the cuddles after I do something special, like help out at school playtime or after he has an especially good swim. Usually I get “I’m busy, Mum. We meet for babycinnos later.” “Mum. Shush. I can’t think.”
Hmmmm.
“Were you really sick?” Cautious nod. He knows it’s coming. We square off like two opponents eyeing each on either side of… a WWF ring?
“But not very sick?” Slow headshake. (One thing, he doesn’t really lie, I’ll give him that. )
“You could’ve gone to school today, couldn’t you?” Sheepish grin and nod.
WHY did he do that, he LOVES school! Okok ask the right question –
“Did you cut school today to see if Mum would stay home with you?”
“Yeah.”
“You’d give up school for a day just to see if Mum’s really helping in school for you??”
Head bobbing.
CRAP. I’ve been taken for a ride by my 3-and-quarter year old offspring. Bamboozled. Hoodwinked. Hey, didn’t I have a friend in Pri school who called his dad to take him home early crying illness several times a week? (He got found out fast after trying “Dad you need to take me home because I’m having a heart attack.” He was 7, I think. Oh no, is my child going to do this for kicks now?)
“I stayed back because you were genuinely not well. I would always stay if you needed me. But I will leave you at home to feel bored while I have a good time at your school with your friends if you were being naughty and not going on purpose.”
Rockstar looks less pleased. Mum has feet of clay after all. “Why do I have to go?”
“Because otherwise you don’t learn stuff. No cool job and responsibility for the stupid, who would trust them with important stuff?” No response.
“Anyway I don’t remember you ever not liking school. You skipped today just to see if I would stay home too, didn’t you?” Cuddle him. But please dear Lord, let him not go experimenting with cutting school anymore.
“I’ll go tomorrow, Mum.”
Uh, ye-ah huh you will.
“I’ll be perfect. Not awesome or great. Perfect.”
“So what happens next time Mum gets to go too?”
“We’ll both go. We’ll do it together, Mum.”
I can only hope. You already totally got me once.
What’s up with that anyway, what was he thinking?
