He is explaining the behavior system in his class.
Did I tell you how it works? You start on green and you want to go up. If you go down, you could get in the orange and that’s not good. But if you go up, that’s good. It’s your clips.
Clicks? You go up and down clicks?
No. CliPPPS.
Oh okay, gotcha.
I’m sitting on the edge of his bad and he starts to rub my arm, absent-mindedly. He’s wearing two shirts, even thought I told him he’ll be hot. Oh well. He’s all wrapped up in a hooded blanket too, it’s so soft. The hood has horns on it and eyes that end up on his forehead. It’s a monster hooded blanket. His favorite.
He bites at his fingernail and tells me about his friend who has trouble not moving down into orange which means he could end up one more down and have to write a note to his parents to say what he did.
Do you think about it a lot? I ask him. Is it kind of hard to not talk when you should be quiet for the teacher and to stop playing when you’re supposed to listen?
He nods and his eyes are big in the dark. He keeps biting at his nail.
Well. So far so good, honey. I’m proud of you. I know it’s hard to keep that in mind all day.
I’m staying in the green. His blinks are getting longer.
I suddenly remember his homework and decide we’ll do it in the morning. We say prayers instead and I run my hand over his thick getting-really-long hair. I can see he’s think-think-thinking as I kiss his forehead and tell him goodnight. I love you, Miles.
He nods, turns on his side and disappears a little more into the blankets and the dark.
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This is the 101st installment of Just Write, an exercise in free writing your ordinary and extraordinary moments. {Please see the details here.} I would love to read your freely written words so join me and link up below. You can add the url of your post at any time. Just be sure it’s a link to your Just Write post, not to your main page, and please don’t link to posts that are not freely written in the spirit of capturing moments–you know, don’t link to how-to posts, lists or sponsored posts. Also, please link back to this post in yours so people know where to go if they’d like to join in.
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{ 10 comments }
This could be me and Gray, almost word for word, nail bite for nail bite.
Stephanie Precourt recently posted..Dilly Dally
I love hearing their perspective on school, especially when they let their guard down.
This is beautiful. Er, all I could think was – if you do that homework in the morning, you are sooooo going to be late again! (chronic obsessive early on-timer here). :D
I love the way you always capture the sweetest, tender moments with such amazing visuals for your readers. The description of the hooded blanket made me feel like I was in the room with you. Fabulous. Truly fabulous. Thanks for hosting the hop again this week.
Elizabeth @ Rocks, No Salt Mommy recently posted..Start Saving For Law School Now
This made me smile because once the weather gets cooler and M. has to don a jacket, she won’t take it off the entire day. Even her huge, unwieldy winter parka. She wears it. Even in gym class. She did this all last year, even when I was volunteering in her class and asked her if she wanted to take it off. It looked so crazy, the rest of the kids in jeans and sports jerseys and then ParkaPerson. I think her coat provides that extra layer of protection that her little soul needs.
Today was the first jacket day–a rain slicker. On the way to school, M. said, “Hooray, Mama. I’m going to wear this jacket all day.” And I’m sure she will.
Thekitchwitch recently posted..Just Write: Storms
You are such an incredible mom and person.
What an incredibly clear moment! I love the intimacy of it.
Natalie DeYoung recently posted..Because I’m in Rehab
Awww. I just love this. :) What a tender moment.
Kat recently posted..Alone
I hope my Miles is as thoughtful. Such a sweet post.
What a perfectly captured moment. Beautiful and tender and sweet.
Cynthia | The Hippie Housewife recently posted..When your heart is shattered
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