Cathy in the Wright

School Is Out

Yesterday was the last day of class for The Senator. His teacher informed her students on Wednesday that they could bring pop and candy for the last couple of hours of school when they would finish watching a movie.

I had mixed emotions on that one. Scarfing a bunch of treats and washing it all down with more sugar didn't sit particularly well, especially because The Senator had to test for his next belt in his Tae Kwon Do class that evening. And yet, I just couldn't bring myself to declare, "Soy milk and rice cakes!" Not when the Senator looked at me with pleading eyes and begged, "Just this once, ma'am?" (Ma'am! These TKD lessons are paying off big time.)

So what did I do? I caved. Spectacularly. Wednesday night I went out and bought fruit snacks and Mountain Dew. Mountain Dew. The forbidden nectar. The soda that is never allowed. That's right: Mom bought pop. And not just any pop, but the Holy Grail of pop. The Senator could not believe his good fortune.

I had to lay down a restriction to suck a little of the joy out of the experience.

You WILL NOT drink that entire bottle in class. Understand? You have your belt test tonight. I don't want you getting ill beforehand.

Sure, Mom!

He would have promised me his kidneys at that point, but I felt confident he would obey.

When he reached the front door that afternoon, he looked a little peaked. When we sat down for dinner, he looked even more ill.

Are you okay, Senator?

"Umm...I feel a little sick."

Did you drink that whole bottle in class?!

"No. I only drank half of it in class. I drank the other half on the bus on the way home."

.
.
.

Eat your dinner.

"Mom, I might throw up."

If you do, you'll feel better. I know I will.

He managed to choke down a little food and we headed off to the gym. "Good luck tonight, son. Try not to throw up on Master Roy's shoes."

He pulled through and earned his green belt. And then he wanted to go to Subway.

My turn to feel ill.

Posted by Cathy at June 8, 2007 10:39 AM