He Looks Like a Boy, But He's Really a Mule

Jack is sitting at the school table staring at the walls.  After an hour and a half of trying to get him to focus on his schoolwork, I decided that I was finished playing his games.  I told him that I was off to do other things and to call me when he was ready to get to work.  He didn't have to do school work since clearly he didn't want to, but he wasn't allowed to waste my time and he wasn't allowed to leave the table until he did all his work for today.  He has been sitting there for over an hour.

Every 10 minutes or so, I ask him if he is ready to get started.  Every time he tells me "No." and then goes on staring off into space, or rolling his pencil back and forth, or pushing around scraps of paper on the table, or trying to talk to his siblings who are working at the other desks.  One time he yelled out, "I'm ready," but when I sat down at the table with him, he looked up, a twinkle in his eye and said, "Oh, I wasn't talking to you.  That was just part of my game that I made up here at the table."

I've tried everything to make the world around him more interesting than sitting at the table.  I baked cookies.  I've encouraged the other boys to play loud games.  I've told him that he can't get up even for lunch until he finishes.  And yet, still he sits.

I used to think that I was stubborn.  That is until I gave birth to a mule.  Oh sure, he looks like a boy.  He wears clothes and often eats at the table.  However, I am convinced that in actuality he is a mule in boy's clothing.

I would like to think that at some point this stubbornness will serve him well.  Perhaps, he will change the world.  Perhaps, he will be uncompromising his beleifs.  Perhaps, he will find a cure for some desease because he'll never give up.  Perhaps, he'll lead a revolution.  But, he won't do any of that if he never leaves the school table.

Comments

[Amy]

Wren took 3 HOURS to match 20ish pairs of socks. I can relate.

[GG]

Perhaps his thoughts were more compelling than his lessons - I love his explanation about being ready. This child is a genius.

[Fairion]

One time he yelled out, "I'm ready," but when I sat down at the table with him, he looked up, a twinkle in his eye and said, "Oh, I wasn't talking to you. That was just part of my game that I made up here at the table."

hehehe this line cracked me because I have been there in the exact same situation and had that line used on me.

[Miami refractive surgery]

Some children can be sometimes a pain in the ass, they give us many headaches and make us go mad and you can;t do anything to change that. You try all kind of tricks, threats and still continue being a mule.