We’ve had just a wee amount of trouble in the Blue House Academy this week with a rebellious attitude.

Someone has been making things very difficult for the rookie teacher.

Its not that she can’t do the work; she just thinks that if she throws enough wrenches into the cogs, I’ll say, “Oh, forget it…. just go play.”

We don’t often have moments like these: my oldest child is very sweet and kind and obedient most of the time ~ the whole first-born child stereotype ~ and has this perfect child illusion going on….. I know this because a couple of my friends have said, “She’s the perfect child!”

Ha.

However, though these moments are few and far between, she is in fact human and childish and like all human children she wants to be in charge and needs to be reminded from time to time who the Alpha Dog is around here. Not often, mind you, but it does come in spurts.

We’re in a spurt at the moment.

So my best solution for a rebellious, not-wanting-to-obey attitude, is Obedience Boot Camp.

Where momma is the Drill Sergeant and we practice obedience drills all. day. long.

I give them the most tedious orders all day, one after the other with only a quick potty break here and there, and they obey. Period. We keep on until they are so weak and exhausted they can hardly lift a cleaning rag, until their knuckles and kneecaps are bleeding from all the grueling slave labor, or until I break their stubborn, rebellious little wills…. whichever comes first.

OK, put down the phone…..Before you go calling the CPS hot line on me, I was exaggerating, OK?

Not that I ever exaggerate. This was, like, the first time ever.

I make things just unpleasant enough that tomorrow, they’ll decide its just more convenient to happily do their schoolwork.

Here they are showing off their meticulous folding and reorganizing job!

Don’t let their smiles fool you…..they’re suffering, I tell you.

I bet they’ll think twice before they sass their poor frazzled teacher again.