I already attempted to blog this once and something went wrong, as something often tends to do. But I feel the need to share this diatribe. And, let's be honest, bury last night's rather confessional post.
So my little sister M is quite a reader. As in a terrifying devours everything in sight, especially if it has to do with princesses, dogs, or fairy tales, reader. Did I mention she's my favorite sibling?
Anyway, last spring I gave her Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. Hale is an LDS writer and had won an award for GG at the AML conference. Since then M has 1) continued to nag me to read GG and 2) become a big fan of Shannon Hale, who just happens to be coming to the English reading series. Being the super-cool older sister that I am, I thought it would be fun to bring M down to Provo that day to go to the reading and get her books signed. I even offered lunch and the new Shannon Hale book that M has yet to own. Bring out the trumpets, processional, etc. for best sister of the year.
There's just one snag. M was ecstatic about this idea until. . . well, I couldn't figure it out for a few weeks. I'd bring it up and she'd get quiet and start talking about dogs or her best friends or her math assignment--sometimes all three. Finally she explained to me last night that she realized she would have to miss school. I told her she could probably stand to miss one day of fifth grade, that it wouldn't effect her ability to get into a good college, etc., but she wasn't buying it. A little more prodding and she told me that her school has a rewards system this year for perfect attendance. Each month of perfect attendance earns you a dog tag. At the end of the year, there are rewards for those students who earned the most dog tags/went the whole year without missing a day of school.
I know attendance is important. I have an attendance policy in my class (I suck at enforcing it, but don't tell my students). I respect and adhere to attendance policies my professors have outlined. But one day? For your favorite author? And your supercool big sister? Give me a break. Let them live.
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4 comments:
So have you read Goose Girl yet? It's fabulous. And Shannon is delightful--you'll enjoy her reading.
At least your favorite lil sis doesn't have a perfect church attendance. Now that would really bring a finger to my tonsils.
what would they give kids who never miss church? It wouldn't be dog tag, but some type of necklace or accessory .. hmmm, maybe a patch you could sew onto a green bandalo or even better, a gold medallian with a girl walking in a flowing dress......
Dog tags are sexy...
...not that your little sister should be thinking of that, though.
I bet whatever prize they give out for perfect attendance isn't as cool or fun as a day with big sister and free lunch and getting a book signed. Seriously. I bet they'll give her a cupcake.
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