A+ for Mommy!

Marley's school is very big on rewarding good behavior. They have a whole rewards program, where the kids earn coupons and can redeem them for various little prizes. She was pretty happy that as of the 2nd week of school she had already earned 7 coupons. Although she couldn't really tell me what for.

The other night she told me that she had been called down to the office that day at school. I of course thought the worse. I guess it was a testament to her usually good behavior that she never even entertained the thought that she could be in trouble. When I asked what she thought she had been called down for, she said that she thought she was getting out early. Imagine the poor kid’s disappointment when she was given this:

Mommy got her own award! It's laminated and everything! Apparently my anal-ness in filling out forms means I had filled out her emergency cards “neatly and completely” enough to warrant my own award. Of course as soon as I saw it my (ridiculous) competitive streak kicked in and I grilled her on how many other parents got one. Apparently she wasn’t really paying attention, but she did know that she was the only kid in her class that was called down to the office. So I was at least the best parent in her class (or the whole school, as I like to believe). Maybe this makes up a little bit for the pigsty that she usually lives in? Maybe my real talent is filling out forms - not housework. A much more useful trait, if I do say so myself.

Anyhow...after thinking about it a little, I realized that this was a pretty strange award. First of all, we were asked to fill out the cards and send them back. This warranted an award? Doing what we were asked? Of course, I did it neatly, but this brings us to the second point. These cards are what the school uses when they need to get in touch with you when there’s something wrong with your child. Isn’t it in our best interest to fill them out as neatly and completely as possible? It’s kind of amazing that you would be recognized for doing something required and in the best interest of your child. And pretty scary that if they’re recognizing someone for doing this, it must mean some parents aren’t doing it – or at least aren’t doing it well.

But hey, an award’s an award, and Marley was pretty proud of me. I guess at 7 years old you still can be proud of your parents – not just embarrassed. Although I think she may be a little embarrassed about the state of our house...she told me the other day we needed a maid. Which I promptly agreed with!