I am not above bribery.

Been dealing with some behavior issues from Sam lately, to which I alluded when I mentioned his allergy testing. It’s nothing malicious or even mischievous, honestly; it’s just plain old, garden-variety scatterbrainedness. Talking when he should be. Fiddling with things in his desk instead of paying attention. Not participating in class, to the point where he has no idea what they’re discussing. It’s driving his teachers, and us, crazy. I talked to Mom yesterday, and I begged her for every horror story she could give me from my own childhood. “I’ve tried to forget most of them!” she laughed. “Try harder to remember,” I said.

I was chronically tardy, unwilling to cooperate or participate in class. Going through my desk was always a terrifying adventure of discovery. Mom despaired of ever reaching a happy ending with me, and nothing worked to change things, until I hit sixth grade and suddenly everything resolved on its own. She also claims never to have said, “I hope you have kids just like you someday!” but I think I don’t believe that. Somebody must have, anyway.

Hopefully, the allergy med adjustments will help; I seem to recall that they have in the past. In any case, I’m also willing to try “helping” by providing incentive to work harder. Sam’s never been one to follow trends (I blogged once, long ago, that when I asked him what kids at his school were “into,” he said, “Math?”), but from what I’ve heard from other places, Silly Bandz are the Hot New Thing that All The Cool Kids Have. (I also find it amusingly fitting, as a couple of people have suggested having Sam wear a rubber band on his wrist, snapping it when he catches his attention wandering.) Perhaps if he can go a week with no notes being sent from school, we can treat him to some of these; the price is certainly right. (Each of these packs was a buck.)

Ugh. Well, school just let out; I need to try to call and touch base with his teacher now, before she leaves the building.