Tattle Tale

I had my very first teacher's conference with Big Kid's teacher the other day.

Her and I sat and talked as little kid ran around the room like a shrieking banshee. She basically told me what I already know, that he's amazing and brilliant. She didn't use those words and tried to downplay the whole "genius" thing, but whatever, we all know.

We attempted a serious meeting while little kid erased her white boards, ran around the room with white board markers and attempted to leave the room several times. It was hard to maintain concentration with me having to get up and snatch him up every three minutes, but we tried, sitting there in our little chairs.

Finally, she wraps things up and asks if I have any questions. "How's he doing social--"

Teacher: He's a total tattletale (rushed out, obviously relieved that I asked)

Ashley: (laughing too hard to talk) This is no surprise.

Teacher: I try to get them to talk it out, use their words, get it taken care of, but he wants to tell me no matter what. He also wants to tell me about things that he's not even involved in.

Ashley: (still laughing)....yes, this is not a surprise. Ahhh. We will work with him on this, although God knows we've tried. We deal with it at home too. I'm sorry.

Teacher: No, he's really good, he's just---

Ashley: A total control freak. He is Mr. Morals & Safety Patrol and it's his way or the highway. Trust me, we know. He can't be friends with half the class because they get warnings and he doesn't like Juan because he chews with his mouth open. We've been working on minding our own business, but we obviously need to keep working at it.

(at this point I have to tackle little kid to the ground to retrieve a marker)

Teacher: Oh don't worry about it. He's fine, really. (meaning little kid)

Ashley: No really, he's not. He smuggled markers into time out this morning in his pockets and wrote all over himself and his crib. He's on marker restriction. Anyway, I'll work with Big Kid about the tattling.

Later Big Kid and I get in the car and I say, "So Miss D told me that sometimes you're a tattletale."

Big Kid: Yep

Ashley: Yep, you are a tattle tale?

Big Kid: Yes, all da time. I dest tell her when da kids make bad choices.

Ashley: That's none of your business.

Big Kid: Den whose business is it? Someone needs to know dey are makin' bad choices. So I dest tell her.

Ashley: Well, do me a favor and stop telling her. Just worry about Big Kid.

Big Kid: Big Kid dest worries about people's bad choices, okay?