So a couple weeks went by with no incident. Sweat Pea and Edith were separated, and life went on (with a few murmered complaints about the separation of the BFF's). Yesterday, I snuck out of work early to go home and sneak in a nap before Edith's gymnastics. I was exhausted. No sooner had I drifted of into a slumber than my phone rings. Sighing, I went to go get my phone, assuming it was one of my employees. I picked it up and saw the missed call. I clicked to view it and my heart sank - it was Edith's school. I have learned that her school does not call just to say "hi." Maybe they should from time to time, because everytime they called I'm instantly filled with a sense of sheer dread.
I called them back. Edith had bit again. At least it was not Sweat Pea this time, so I don't have to worry about her parents coming to my house for shooting practice. But on the other hand, that means the problem is not isolated to Sweat Pea. Jasmine stated that the next time Edith bites, we will have to come and get her. Which means to me, the next step, the next logical step, is that Edith might get expelled from school. It's not inconceivable. I tried to go back to sleep and could not. I texted The Love of My Life a brief synopsis (i.e. Edith bit again), and he soon called me. And I start crying. I am so frustrated.
Now, we agreed long before the evil divorce that we were not going to use corporal punishment with Edith. In the past year when I have mentioned that we might want to go this route, The Love of My Life has been adament that he does not think that it is a solution. So when I mentioned maybe spanking her, I just about fell out of my bed when he said, "Yeah, I think we need to. I've been thinking that." So there it was. Edith's Day of Doom had come. I told him I'd call him after I picked up Edith and we decided he'd come to the house and we'd do this together, as a parental unit. We had some discussion over if we would bite her or spank her, if it would be Mom or Dad, and if we would use a hand or paddle, without reaching any real conclusion except that I didn't think we should bite her. It may leave a mark, and that could be bad news.
I left to go pick her up from school, trying so hard not to cry. I'm embarassed and humiliated. I have visions of Sweat Pea's parents also being there when I arrive at the school. I scan the parking lot. I walk in. I bypass Jasmine's office because I am barely holding it together. I go into Edith's room, and she is in SUPER SWEET mode. She's telling me how they watched a new movie and made smores. And her new teacher is there, and she's saying how great a day Edith had except this one leetle incident. The little boy had been behind Edith in line and he had been playing and tapping on Edith's shoulders, and I guess she didn't like that, and she turned around and tried to bite him on the neck but thank goodness he had on a sweater and so she really barely scratched him. And I lost it. I lost it. I started crying - just like I belonged in the three year old room myself. And I couldn't stop. And here is this 20 year old teacher standing there trying to tell me it's not that bad, don't cry, and so I cry harder... In fact, I'm crying again right now as I type this, so I think we'll have to break this one down into a Part I and Part II.
I haven't even told my brother.
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