Third Grade Worries

About 6:20 that morning – I was sleeping in – I was greeted by Yali toddling in with a skateboard to keep me company. With all his strength he heaved it up onto the high bed and into the covers. No explanation whatsoever. I figured that was a sign it was time to get up.

“Movie Character Day” for Spirit Week was not a successful one for Puck. Thursday night he had decided to wear a piece of paper duct-taped across his chest reading “Star Wars”. We were a little low in the costume department. Thursday night, it seemed like an awesome idea. Friday morning? Not so much…

“This is a dumb idea, Mom!” he worried as we walked into school.

“Well… if it bothers you that much, I guess you can take it off…”

“But I have to wear my school uniform if I’m not wearing a costume! And I’m not wearing a uniform!”

“Well… if anyone asks, just tell them you had a wardrobe malfunction.”

Puck ran into the bathroom to tear off the paper and tape.

It was three o’clock again.

“Annie, come on. It’s my turn!”

“No, Heidi! You get him all the time!”

“But you’ve already been holding him for a long time! Mrs. Silverspoon!”

“Mrs. Silverspoon!”

Arguments over Yali persisted after carpool until we reached an agreement on five-minute “It’s my turn to hold Yali” intervals. I figured any more than five minutes would be pushing the required level of patience, on both ends. They stuck to the plan. Later, I overheard both girls chatting with each other while Yali played with a pile of their teddy bears. Bribes.

“Come on, Annie! This is my thing. It’s the only way I can get him to love me!”

“It’s the only way I can get him to love ME!”

Fortunately it was all good-natured banter. And Yali was getting spoiled like crazy again, as usual.

Driving home, windows rolled down till we hit the highway. Puck – as usual – requested some tunes for the road.

“Any particular requests?”

“Yup! Korean!”

These boys are more into K-Pop than I am. After every song, Yali gives me the “thumbs up” in the rearview mirror.