It's the Best Day Ever...

(I love that catchy tune, never thought I'd refer to it in a blog post though!)

Part of the Little Man's behavior plan at school is his sticker chart. He has the opportunity to earn two stickers each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The first two weeks back from break were tough on him and he earned 4 stickers out of a possible 20 - obviously there were some 'issues' going on! Last week he turned a corner and he earned 6 stickers in the week with a day off thrown in there for good measure. Right now, it's Wednesday night and we're at 4 stickers already! He's definitely making some progress - WooHoo!!!

Yesterday morning the Little Man announced to me that he was going to get one sticker. I kind of laughed and asked why he was only shooting for one, why not go for two? When I picked him up from daycare last night he was excited - he got his one sticker! I decided that rather than hound him and question why he didn't get the second sticker, that I would just be proud of him for getting one. I did not even ask about the other sticker - and I knew that his teacher will leave me a note if there is an issue that I need to be aware of.

Fast forward...

While I was getting dinner ready, the Little Man told me that he wanted me to see his sticker chart, he even got it out for me. I stopped what I was doing and went to the couch to sit down. I reached for the notebook and began opening. The Little Man turned and began walking up the stairs stopping a few steps up. "I'll be in my room, Mom. And I won't ask to play the wii tonight."

Wise beyond his years I tell you! Turns out he spit on another students desk and then wouldn't clean it up. His teacher sent him to the Principal's office. The day before he spit on a teachers shoe at daycare - and was forced to clean it. I made it very clear that first day that it was unacceptable and that it would not be tolerated. There are a lot of negative connotations associated with spitting, on someones shoe, especially when that someone is African-American. He seemed to grasp that I would not be happy and since he took care of his punishment on his own, I did not have to do a lot of lecturing. He lost a few more privileges as the evening progressed and at one point even called me on it, saying that he already went to his room, lost his wii, etc. I simply told him that what he did was so wrong that he would be losing many things that night. Amazingly, he did not argue and even seemed to understand.

Today...when I picked him up from daycare his teacher came up and told me that he had one of the best days he's ever had! As we were opening the door to go inside another child told him to 'run to the front door!'. The Little Man got really upset, got in his face and yelled at him not to try to get him in trouble. I was proud of him for sticking up for himself. When we got in the car he told me that he got TWO stickers today! This time when he asked me to look at his sticker chart he did it with a glow to his cheeks and a smile on his face. What greeted me made me beam as much as him..."Wow! You can't believe what a great day!Whatever you did, do it again." What parent doesn't want to hear (or read) those words from their child's teacher??? Really I have no idea what I did, so I can't predict a repeat performance. I was so proud of him. I asked him how it was, if it was tough to earn two stickers. LOL, he told me that it was hard work "but I survived." I told him that he survives every day but that it feels a lot better to do it with two stickers to show at the end of it.

We'll see what tomorrow has in store. Could he have "The Best Day Ever" two days in a row?