Rules, Rules and More Rules

Since we started our new school more than one year ago, Jake has adjusted very well to the rules.

In fact, he has been begging for more rules since the very beginning. He begs me for the rules to apply at home and often times asks me if he's doing a good job following all the requirements. 

"Wait, what was that specific direction?" he'll inquire when he forgets what I've asked him to do.  He asks the questions at home, verbatim off his rule sheet from school. 

From the beginning he'd ask the teacher, "How come S has more rules than I have?" he'd ask after begging for more structure.  I don't think he wants to struggle and fail, but he so needs very clear expectations in place.

The school expectations are unique to every student based on their abilities and likelihood of success deemed appropriate by the awesome staff. For the first year he had just 5 rules and wanted more, more, more! 

Today, the first day of 5th grade, he popped in the car with a grin from ear to ear. He couldn't even let me get out of the parking lot before contorting himself to yank his giant book bag from the back seat, he nearly hit me in the head while flopping it over the seat so he could rip out his binder. 

"Look. Look. Look!" I have new rules mommy, I'm a super HUGE 5th grader now! We should call Daddy, and Auntie Julie, and Peter..." 

I was driving so I couldn't really look at his binder, but was fully expecting  just one more requirement on his already challenging list of rules. 

I told him to read them to me so I could listen while I drove. He excitedly started in the list of TEN rules. He was beaming with glee. 

"I'm a young man now right mommy?" 

"Yeah buddy, if you can follow all those rules, you are quite a young man. I'm very proud of you." 

"Yeah me too!" 

---