Happy Wednesday, folks.

We have struggled, since middle school, with Alex’s tardiness.

A month or so ago, we received a notice from his school that if he arrives late to 1st period two more times over the remainder of the school year, that he will fail his 1st period class and will need to retake it in summer school.

When he was late last week, I was annoyed.

But when I found out on Monday that he was absent, because he would have been late if he went to school, it tested my reasoning skills.

Here’s why.

Upon a phone call from Alex at lunchtime, we learned that he slept through his first alarm, and by the time he was wakened by his second alarm, it was too late for him to make it to 1st period on time.

As a result, he cut school to avoid his final late before earning a do-over.

With a quick flip through the student handbook I found that:

Any student who has been absent for twenty (20) days will be placed on a No-Credit Status. Students will be placed in Study Halls and receive an F-No Credit for the remainder of the school year.

HOWEVER, it takes just nine (9) first-period lates to receive the same punishment.

Which meant that on Monday morning, Alex thought it best to cut the entire day instead of facing the natural consequence that came from being late 8 additional times this year.

It’s at these moments in time that I look at Colin and Sam and can’t imagine doing this two more times…

When I picked Alex up from his mom’s that afternoon, I was so disappointed that I could not muster the energy to fake a casual conversation with him.

Alex’s POV – I have passing grades and should not have to retake the class simply because I’m habitually late.

{Alex has a tendency to take the path-of-least-resistance. But I hold us, as the parents in his life, to a higher standard.}

The schools’ POV – drove of early-morning late-comers disrupting 1st period every day wears thin.

{And that’s obviously why the policy is in-place.}

My POV – I have no interest in teaching my kids to cheat the system.

{I am a pragmatist about this stuff.}

I’m sure some of you can personally attest to the fact that you can be the most-friendly receptionist, or top sales person, or best hair stylist, but if you are routinely late [or absent, of course], you are sure to be canned.

We’ve all seen it in office settings – people swip-swapping sick days, personal days, emergency days, vacation time for days that they aren’t.

Maybe you’ve done it yourself [come on Jersey-shorers – I know you have taken a sick day on the Tuesday after Memorial Day Weekend].

But it’s cheating.

My Juicy Glad-I-Caught-That: “When people cheat in any arena, they diminish themselves-they threaten their own self-esteem and their relationships with others by undermining the trust they have in their ability to succeed and in their ability to be true.” ― Cheryl Hughes

And you’ll get away with it for a while, but it catches up to you.

Because when you aren’t honest about what you’re doing, you’ll eventually get caught.

Take me for example.

What Alex feels for 1st period, I feel for bridal showers.

How do you politely say, “Thank you for the invite to your shower. I won’t be there because showers kinda suck.”?

You don’t.

And showers don’t really suck {well, sometimes they do}, but they are toward the bottom of my list of ways I enjoy to spend my time {does that make me a terrible person?}

Much like Alex and 1st period.

DISCLOSURE – if I’ve been to your bridal shower, I’m sure I had a lovely time. And if I wasn’t at your bridal shower, I promise I wasn’t cutting.

When I make a commitment to a shower – I go. Because I care about the people in my life. Because my word means a lot to me. Because I choose not to lie.

When you’re committed to something – work, a partner, graduating high school, an ugly sweater party – show up.

On time.

Ready to go.

If you show up late often, don’t make excuses – you’re doing something wrong. If you bail on your commitment because that’s easier than gettin’ it done – it’s time to take a long look in the mirror.

Model honest behavior for your children – I’m doing the same. It’s not always easy, but I’d prefer to sit through 100 bridal showers than to ask my children to watch me cover up a lie.

See you on the flip-side.

In love,

Noelle
xoxox