I'm proud to say I am my kids' Mom. Unfortunately I must admit to spending some time in hiding over the past three years as my four precious sons navigate middle school. I have decided 7th grade boys are not completely human yet. My sons each have a rap sheet that when printed out, double spaced, takes up more than one sheet of paper. Crimes include taking a kite to school and flying it in the courtyard at break, writing on the bathroom tile with dry erase markers, taking their dog to first period, dropping their pants to tuck in their shirt, running to the billboard erected in front of the school and "faking" hitting their heads, falling to the ground and rolling in "pain", playing "ditch em" with the playground supervisor and bringing a water bottle to class (a gallon milk jug) . . . the list goes on and on.

The Vice-Principal knows my cell-phone number. She has called me laughing, crying and spitting angry. It seems my boys spend more time in detention than they do in class. Because I currently have three boys in middle school, I don't feel qualified to advise others. I've still got a year and a half to go.

In the meantime, my husband and I assign additional work assignments for discipline that may include washing windows, hoeing the garden, pulling weeds, moving rocks and spreading mulch. The boys are great workers, very physically fit from the additional work they do and our home and yard look great. If I had to give advice to others it would be . . . hang on tight and whatever you do, don't lose your sense of humor. I wouldn't trade anything for the blessing of being Mom to four boys.
I think my cell-phone is ringing! LOL

Christine