The Treasure Chest

Through the years, and various states we have lived in, any program that CJ has been involved with, that rewarded good behavior, she's never missed a reward.

Really!  How blessed we are to have her and that she is so well behaved.  I have a sneaky suspicion that while the other two will (are) also be well behaved, they will also be more inclined to push the boundaries a bit.  So let me take a moment and smile that she is so well behaved.

Okay.  I'm done.  For now.

This past Sunday I found out that Kindergarten also has a treasure chest.  No big surprise there.  The fact that she got to pick a prize was also not a big surprise.  However, the way it all unfolded, I was stunned, confused, and a bit concerned.

While at lunch on Sunday, Eric says, "Last night after bed time CJ came out and said, "I have something important to tell you. I think I have something breakable in my backpack." ".

Imagine a quizical look on my face.  ?    
I had looked through her stack of work, the teacher notes, pulled it all out, I did not see anything else in the backpack and certainly nothing that was breakable.  "huh?"

I looked at CJ. " I have a light bulb in my back pack. I picked it from the treasure chest."

A light bulb?  --becoming more confused AND concerned....

I ask her "a REAL light bulb?" 

Yes, I was questioning her ability to determine what  a light bulb is.

I asked her "was it like an eraser that looks like a light bulb, for a 'great idea' type of reward?"

CJ, "Well, I tapped on it and it sounded like glass. It looks like one of those," pointing to the hanging decorative lights above.

Hmmmm...."Eric, did you look in her bag for this light bulb?"

"No, I didn't know where her bag was."

As the mommy, and clearly the only adult in this situation, I could not think of anything except this light bulb in her back pack.  How the three of them had been playing school with this back pack. How a back pack gets abused with kicks and being sat on.  All I could think about was broken glass shards all over her back pack, potentially all over the house.  HOW DID I MISS A LIGHT BULB??????? HOW COULD ERIC NOT STOP ANYTHING HE WAS DOING TO CHECK IT OUT??

I wanted to go home.  RIGHT NOW!

But we didn't.  No, we stayed and ate our yummy meal.

As everyone was getting buckled up, I had more questions.

Where did you get this light bulb?

CJ,"I had to open the door to the closet."

OH MY WORD!!!  Did you take a light bulb from the supply closet?  Now I was laughing...this is really out of character for her...to snoop around in the school supply closet and take a light bulb.  But it did make more sense as to HOW a light bulb would get in her bag. 

I couldn't help it.  I made a joke.

"Next time, take toilet paper, we can always use more of that."

Okay, she didn't like the joke and insisted that NO she wasn't in the supply closet that is just where the treasure chest is kept.  Sorry kiddo.  Back to the question...really? I light bulb?  Maybe I need to help supply prizes that are more like prizes.

So I asked her, "what other kind of prizes are in there"  Yes I was still wondering if she was dazed and confused at school and not clearly understanding what a treasure chest is versus a supply closet.

"Pencils, stickers, but only one light bulb".

"Did you take it because it was the only one in there?"

Huge smile and nod yes.

Okay, I am ready to go home and find this crazy light bulb.

But first, the book store.

And Target.

And gas.

And another potty stop.

Can we please just go home now?!?!?!?

"Please bring your back pack to me"

She brings only the light bulb.

I was relieved that it was in one piece.

And that it's not actually a light bulb.

However, a clear glass ornament ball, still seems a bit peculiar for a treasure chest, for kindergarteners.

I did on Monday, have a talk with the teacher.  Stating my concern for broken glass. She said she has had the prize box for several years, and forgot that that might be in there.  This is her first year teaching kinders, but agreed that this is maybe not a good prize and she would go through it and remove any unsuitable objects.  She also does keep the box in a closet.  I mentioned that in the future, I would rather CJ grab toilet paper instead of light bulbs, for safety's sake.  We had a good laugh over it...but really, concerned mother here- over potential shards of glass everywhere. No, I don't think I'm over reacting on that.

Tomorrow is Friday. I think the teacher mentioned this is a weekly opportunity.  We'll see what CJ selects this week, and I'll double check her bag!