I get home from work and, as usual, the Elderbeast hasn’t done his homework yet (a.k.a handwriting practice). While preparing dinner I try to get him to do his work.
It does not go well.
Over dinner he finally reveals that he’s in trouble at school; bad enough that he’s come home with a note from the deputy principal. Bad enough that he’s pretty stressed about it. I decide to lay off on the homework. A little later on we go and have One Of Those Talks with him about it. It goes well. He accepts responsibility and suggests he should be grounded for a week when we ask what consequence would be appropriate.
It’s one of those odd times that should be a hard parenting moment but goes really easily. If only the stuff that was supposed to be easy could be the same.