Messy Minded Momma

And this is despite having friends, loving recess and free play, building impressive LEGO and magnet-tile creations, and recently showing off his growing literacy and math skills. None of this seems to outweigh the simple fact that… school is still a hard no.

This morning, my son asked if he could stay home. I asked if he was sick. He confidently said yes and followed up with another request to stay home. I explained that staying home only happens with a fever or an upset stomach involving vomiting. He tried a polite “please,” which I admired — but the answer was still no. Off to school we went.

Fast forward to my lunch break, when I get a call from the principal’s office. My son is there complaining of an upset stomach. No fever, plenty of energy, and apparently thriving socially while making his case. The secretary assured me he was chatty, bouncy, and otherwise in excellent spirits.

Now I’m torn between questioning my parenting choices and quietly applauding his problem-solving skills. The wheels were clearly turning this morning. He remembered our conversation, connected the dots, and followed the logic all the way through: tell the teacher, go to the office, explain the rules. “My mommy said I can go home if my stomach hurts,” he told them — and honestly, fair enough.

In the end, he stayed at school, I gained a new appreciation for his memory and negotiation tactics, and I’m realizing that if nothing else, I’m raising a clever little thinker. And really… that feels like a win.