The honeymoon is over...

I'm not talking about MY honeymoon with my honey, but the honeymoon of the first days of school.  You know, when a child is still well-behaved because he doesn't know quite what to expect from his teacher.  When he doesn't want his fellow students to know just how darn mule-headed he really is.  When he still cares what people think of him.  Oh, yes, I'm mourning the loss of the honeymoon period of 1st grade.

Yesterday I received my SECOND call from the school:  I had an uncooperative child.   A child who snuck a mini-maglite in his backpack and began to tap it on his desk.  A child who then wouldn't quit tapping it when his teacher asked him not to. And when his teacher took the flashlight away from him, he then used his fist to pound on his desk instead.  This led to another teacher being asked to come help, and then snowballed into having the principal come get him for a nice and cozy talk.  Thank goodness for her that the office is two doors down from his classroom; it will save a LOT of time this year.  {Last year his class was at the opposite end of the school.  The principal had a hard time and a great workout trying to wrestle him down to the office.}

Today he went to school with a note in tow..."Dear Mrs. G_____,  I'm sorry I was bad."  That's a direct quote.  Short and to the point.  Then he drew himself with a happy face.  I'm assuming that's how he's going to be looking and acting today, but you know what they say about assuming.