Mo Cushla

My kids are terrific. I know this to be true, quite frankly, because I have seen other people's kids. I used to run a summer camp, I volunteer at school, and I am a cub scout den leader for 9 third-graders (4 of whom are on meds for attention disorders. That I know about.) Jake's school has a red-yellow-green card system that they use for behavior warnings. I'm not sure what the colors mean or what the consequences are because, in three years at this school, Jake has been 'off green' twice.

And once, it was as an April Fool's Joke on his dad.

For the most part, they leave the bad behavior at home. Ryan almost always comes home with "happy and energetic" checked off on his day care note. We had a rough spell when he'd outgrown the 2's room but was still in there (damn potty training) and on a few random afternoons he freaked his teacher out by ignoring her when she put him in time out, opting instead to silently stare at a spot just below her knee and rapidly blink his eyes.

Ok, that last one's a little weird. But the point is, they don't cause much trouble. I'm biased, but they're the kind of kids you like to be around.

Problem is, Ryan has started hitting.

Now, young children hit. Out of frustration, when they are exhausted, simply because they can... it happens. Frankly, if you tell me that your toddler never hit, I'll call you a liar. It happened, you just never got a note about it.

A note with comments bathed in YELLOW HIGHLIGHTER, and an 'incident report' to boot.

Ryan hit Nicholas. Repeatedly. The teacher even used the phrase, "pounded on". At issue was a toy that Ryan brought from home. So, no more toys from home.

A reasonable prohibition.

Today, after I said, "No" literally 10 times to the question "Can I bring a toy?", Ryan decided he needed a Plan B. On the short drive to day care, he grabbed a matchbox car and stuffed it in his sweatshirt pocket on the sly. Luckily, I am still smarter than my 3 year old, so I picked up on this maneuver. Figured I'd out-sly him when I hung up his sweatshirt by his cubby. Get to the cubby... and he's already moved the car to his back pocket.

Wow. The kid is good. Not good enough, however, as his peers are desperately trying to see what he's hiding behind his back.

Sigh. One huge fit and a few right shots at Mommy later, he's calm enough to leave with the day care staff. Thank goodness I never have to be anywhere on time.

I am sure it's just a stage. But you can bet I'm keeping my eye on him. If only to see that right hook coming.

mo cushla, for those not familiar, means 'my darling, my blood' according to Clint Eastwood's character in the boxing movie Million Dollar Baby.