Search Results for: blog the frog eraser incident

The Frog Eraser Incident

Sometimes parenting is like standing in a dark room, feeling around for the light switch. This week I received a phone call from my stepdaughter *Cassidy’s teacher. An incident had occurred at school involving two little frog erasers. The teacher said that another girl in Cassidy’s fifth grade class found her beloved erasers missing, along with a sinister note, “HA HA I TOOK YOUR FROGS.” The frogs were later found in Cassidy’s desk. When questioned by several teachers, Cassidy couldn’t deny that she’d taken the frogs (having been caught “red-desked”) but insisted she had NOT written the note. The teacher … Continue reading →

How Old Before They Understand Stealing?

As parents, we can get quite alarmed with what we think is immoral behavior in our children—lying and stealing are two behaviors that can be big triggers for a great many parents. What seems incredibly obvious and “wrong” to us, however, may be a concept that our child has either not grasped developmentally yet, or that takes a while for the lessons to truly sink in. While we begin correcting and trying to teach our children right from wrong from a very early age, and we certainly want to try to correct them when they lie and/or take something that … Continue reading →

Borrowing Vs. Stealing

“I didn’t think anyone was using it!” or “I didn’t take it, I just borrowed it for a while”: Eventually we parents all have to wrestle with the borrowing vs. stealing issue with our children. Some, catch right on, while there are others who have a hard time figuring out the difference between borrowing and stealing or understanding the value and belief system behind what is okay, and what is not… Ideas like sharing, borrowing, taking, and possessions can be really tough ones for a child to grasp. Part of it, I think is due to developmental capabilities and stages, … Continue reading →

A Memory Chip

It was Christmas Eve, and I was cooking a special meal for the family. Outside, a blizzard had just quieted to a few wandering flakes. A thick blanket of snow hushed all the early evening sounds. I checked the turkey in the oven and then went outside to marvel at how beautiful and peaceful it all was. Stars. Snow. I walked down the steps of our porch, across the yard. Then suddenly, I allowed myself to fall backward and make a snow angel. I wondered how old I was the last time I made one. Probably eight or ten. Then … Continue reading →