The homework problem

      I'm sure we are not the only parents who battle with their children about getting homework finished. With both our boys I've noticed that it starts out fairly straight forward the first couple years. A simple reminder and a firm directive seem to do the trick.
      The problems arise shortly after second grade when children learn subversive tactics and anti-parent counter measures. I was not aware that 3rd grade had become spy school but apparently things have changed since I attended. Now that my youngest is in fifth grade he has become fully versed in the home work dodge, he has not yet achieved the legendary skills his big brother had at getting out of homework (or any work for that matter), but he is well on his way.
      The little one has progressed well beyond the simple lie and the changing of homework related documentation; i.e. erasing homework from his agenda. He has also mastered the "Tom Sawyer" which in this case is tricking others into doing pieces of his homework for him. Even though we are aware of this he still catches us off guard occasionally. This is most often used when working on his weekly spelling words and definitions that require sentences as well.
      Apparently my son had lost all grip of the alphabet because every other spelling word on his list was "Not in this stupid dictionary." Which would result in us finding it right where it was supposed to be in less than five seconds. Needless to say I wasn't buying the fake expression of surprise on his face or the insincere "Wow, how did you do that, I looked everywhere." Well there is your problem boy, you should be looking for the word "dew" under the letter D not everywhere.
      Finally fed up with this game I created a game of my own. If he could not find a word in the dictionary but I did find it then he had to stand in the corner and count to one hundred. Yes my child, by ones, not by fives or tens. I can't believe he tried that one, wait actually yes I can. The one caveat to this would be if he could not find the word and when I looked it actually wasn't in "His stupid dictionary" then he could make ME stand in the corner. My son's eyes widened, a devious smile spread across his face and he rubbed his hands together like a Bond villain. Seriously what the hell are they teaching him at this school. Needless to say my evil little spawn was excited at the thought of putting dad into a corner. Well, I'm here to tell you nobody puts daddy in a corner. Ok, even I can't believe I said that.
      His first attempt failed miserably as I found the word he couldn't, his second and third attempt failed as well, so I'd find the word and send him to the corner to count. Frustration set in and he began getting upset at not getting a chance to win this game. I was just a little proud and cocky and even having a little fun with him until I saw the sly smile on his face as he walked away. That's when I realized the little bastard still had me doing his homework.

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