Pass the Manners, Please

Brothers will be brothers, but this is getting ridiculous.

Orry can't seem to keep his hands and his feet to himself.  Lately we've been seeing an increase in hitting and punching, and kicking and screaming.  Pass the Tylenol, please.

So in an effort to curb the negative behavior, we've grounded Orry from the computer for one week.  The punishment started yesterday and already we've learned two things.  1) Orry really likes the computer.  I think we've really hit him where it hurts, so to speak.  And 2) Seven days is like a lifetime to a young kid.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to hear the phrase "Can I get on the computer now?" about 10 times a day for the next 6 days.  Pass the wine, please.

Now the challenge is keeping his mind off the computer and getting him interested in doing other things.  Good thing the weather is beautiful these days.  We have the option of spending time outside in the warm sunshine and cool breeze.  Oh, the joy of the short fall season here in the South.  Other things to do include sorting all of our LEGOs (can you hear me rolling my eyes?) and homework.  Homework.  Homework, homework, homework...

I was never really keen on homework.  I remember completing assignments minutes before they were due.  And for some reason, I didn't really think that kindergartners would have homework.  I was wrong.  Wasn't the first time.  Won't be the last.  

This last Monday, Orry's class had a "big" project due.  It was about community helpers.  He had to pick a community helper that he would like to be when he grows up and he had to report on what the helper does, the tools he uses, and how he contributes to the community.  I read off the list of community helpers that was given as an example.  Computer technicians, no.  Landscapers, no.  Flight attendants, no.  So I asked, "Well what do you want to be when you grow up?"  A paleontologist.  Excellent.

So here is a clip of him practicing. 

It's too bad that we can't have worked on the project this week.  Would have been a nice way to pass the time.  But there is always more work to be done.  Addition, reading comprehension, penmanship.  Or maybe the best thing we can do for the next 6 days is work on our manners and listening skills.  Pass the straight jacket, please.