Whopper

Pickle put off doing his Texas History work as long as he could and then had to bring home about a dozen assignments to be finished in two days. Army of Dad and I both ragged, hassled and fussed at this boy about it. We gave the "make better choices" lecture, the talk about how doing a little at a time is preferable to doing a bunch in a rush ... we did the whole discussion about how your work habits now prepare you for the rest of your life ... you don't want to wind up in a crappy job, your choices now will impact if you can get in the art program (we have a great one here at the technology campus) at high school (they select who gets to attend - you have to have good grades, good attendance, no discipline issues) ... anyway.

He told Army of Dad last night that he finished his work. *crickets chirping*

I get a phone call this morning from the boy. He had lied and the teacher made him call and tell me. I told him HE had to be the one to tell Army of Dad. *whimpering on the other end of the line* Can't you tell him, he asks. Nope, you get to tell him.

After school, his punishment for lying (and for putting off his work) is a list of chores around the house. First, he had to dump the nasty pumpkin in the compost pile, then dust the front room and vaccuum.

From the other room, I hear this:
Pickle: Hey mom, after dad gets done yelling at me, I have a question for him.
AoM: What is that?
Pickle: Where does dust come from?

Very matter of factly. I had to stifle a laugh.