Getting Chewed Out

Our eldest daughter has always been a rules follower, especially at school. Within days of beginning a new year, she can tell you all of the classroom protocol and the accompanying disciplinary action that will be enforced in the event that anyone chooses to disobey. She’s always prided herself in the fact that she doesn’t “turn cards” at school or ever get her name on the board. Our oldest is a perfectionist and likes to operate within a well-defined structure.

Then there’s our youngest child, who never met a rule that she didn’t want to bend. By personality, she’s more of a free spirit and clearly more emotional and illogical at times – which can make rules-following a challenge. Thankfully, she abides by the teacher’s instructions MOST of the time at school, but in her short career at pre-K this fall, she’s had to be disciplined twice for minor offenses.

But mainly what I’ve noticed is that our youngest llama likes to get a rise out of her older sister by throwing a statement out that is contrary to the sacred rules of early childhood education. Take Exhibit A the other night at dinner. Here was our conversation:

Mama Llama: “How was school today?”

Daughters in unison: “Good!”

Mama Llama: “Did you eat all your lunch?”

Older daughter: “Most of it, but we don’t have much time to eat. That’s why we can’t talk at lunch.”

Younger daughter (with an evil gleam in her eye): “We can talk at lunch.”

Older daughter: “No you can’t!”

Younger daughter: “Yes we can!”

Older daughter (in visible frustration): “NO you can’t…not during Silent Chew!!!”

Silent Chew. I thought my husband was going to fall out of his chair laughing. Silent Chew is obviously one of those patented phrases used by the school to indicate a time during the lunch hour when the kids must eat their food and not chat among themselves…and our eldest honors this straightforward directive. When the teacher announces Silent Chew, she’s on it.

Our youngest? Not so much. Which explains why she had to spend a few minutes in Time Out the other day in the cafeteria for talking to her neighbor. It may take her a while to get there, but I’m hopeful that our little girl will get on board with the rules of pre-K, including the dining regulations.

Because if Silent Chew works at school, it can work at home. And I’m not above using it when necessary.