Disturbing yet funny : )

Austin started first grade this year and is a few weeks into it. He seemed to be doing really well, aside from a note home from the teacher this past Monday. It said that Austin had not been listening or behaving properly and would we please talk to him about it. Of course Charley and I had a talk with him and pointed out that if he gets another bad note that a spanking is coming his way. Well several days went by with Austin reporting to Charley that his days have been great! On Thursday I received a call from the teacher. She asked me if I got the note she sent home the other day and I said yes. I told her we had a talk with him and we apologize that he is not behaving. She continued to tell me that he has been bad all week, much to our surprise and given the fact that Austin had been reporting such great news. Well, she said she would send home a note detailing the problems.

I immediately called Charley and told him the situation. Of course he was just as happy to hear this as I was. But we both agreed to deal with it together. Like clockwork Charley picked up Austin and asked how his day went. Another spectacular report, "My day was great Dad!". Charley told him that Mommy and Daddy wanted to talk to him and he had to wait in his room until Mommy got home. As soon as I walked through the door I checked on Aussie, he was napping. So Charley and I woke him up and stared to grill him about his day. I started opening his book bag looking for my note and low and behold; there was none. Strange I thought to myself, maybe it had fallen out? Instead I decide to ask my son, "Austin where is the letter from the teacher, she said you were misbehaving and not listening?". His face changed completely and tears stared pouring down his face. I asked again, where the note was. He eventually fessed up, " I threw it out when I got to church.". Charley and I almost fell over. Our son was being devious and sneaky? We couldn't believe it! Charley and I weren't clever enough at 6 to come up with the idea of throwing out the bad notes our teachers would have sent home. Let alone have the guts. We couldn't help but start to laugh (of course we didn't show Austin we were). Well our laughter turned into shock because he not only threw away one, but two bad notes. I did hold back my laughter, but it was hard. That shenanigan got Austin 4 spankings on a bare bottom. Two for lying and one for each note he threw out. After all was said and done, I was reiterating the NEW rules, no TV, no toys until we hear that you are doing better. At some point he talked back to me. He knew it was a mistake, I could tell by the way he wanted to suck the words back into his mouth. But he knew what was coming, Charley said to turn around. Austin quickly replied, "not another one?!".

So, five spankings total, homework, dinner and straight to bed. He woke up with a renewed sense of self. He couldn't wait to go to school. Strange how the butt is connected to the brain. Charley and I hated to have to do it, but we believe in spare the rod, spoil the child. We will let you know just how effective the punishment has proved to be.