A few years ago when my mom died I was dutifully going through all the things she saved. I found cards I designed for Mother’s Day and Father’s day (what a hoot!), old programs from school plays and, there at the bottom of the pile, was my report card from kindergarten. I was a pretty average kid EXCEPT for the RED U for conduct.

For those of you who know me, you know I still like to chatter. But a RED U in Kindergarten? That is a bit much.

Now I am 5’6” tall. Not the tallest kid on the block, but, in the early days, before the boys had their growth spurts, I was usually the tallest kid in the class and always got to sit at the back of the room.

Can you guess my problem? Back then they were not so smart.

When I talked out of turn, I had to sit in the corner with my back to the class. Or the teacher made me take off my shoes and socks as punishment. (I am not sure what that was all about, other than to embarrass me.)

This went on the entire school semester until I got an eye test in the first grade. Glasses…that’s what I needed.  Of course I chatted. I couldn’t see the board so I just talked to those around me. It was more fun than trying to see the board from the back of the room.

I know today, kids get tested for everything, so this couldn’t happen to your kids. But we still can learn something from this. When things go wrong for our kids, the solution is not always obvious. And professionals don’t always have the answer.

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