Since the weather is starting to warm up a little the critters are coming out. We are seeing deer, rabbits, turkey you know, wildlife. This is expected since we live right next to a nature preserve. Well lately the kids have been seeing snakes. Jazz is terrified of snakes so she has not been very happy. This morning before breakfast Tj, K.K. and Nannah went outside to catch the snakes. I’m thinking ok, go for it. I never thought they would really catch it! Imagine my surprise when my hubby comes running in the house asking for my camera. I can not believe my babies caught it and were not scared. Well, I can believe it a little because Tj loves Animal Planet and watches it every chance he gets. For those of you who don’t know, he is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to animals and dinosaurs. He knows it all and teaches us everything he learns. Here are the pictures. As you will see, K.K. and Nannah were not even scared.

Today is my baby’s birthday!! Well she is not really a baby, but I think of all my kids as “my babies”. She is 10 years old. Happy Birthday Nannah!!!!!!!!

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So, I am sitting here on my computer dropping cards and listening to K.K (5) tell me about her day.(This is one of those things I don’t understand because she does not talk at school but talks non stop at home.) Nannah is on the phone talking with one of her friends about her birthday that is on Wednesday. Then I hear her say, let me ask my mom.
I say: What?
Nannah: Do i have to go to school Wednesday?
Me: Yeah, why?
Nannah: Because my friend never has to go to school on her birthday so I don’t want to go.
Me: Have you ever missed school because it is your birthday?
Nannah: well no (with an attitude)
Me: (taking a deep breath) what’s wrong now?
Nannah: nothing (with an even bigger attitude)

She actually thought I would let her miss school. I am thinking did she just meet me? Everyone who knows me knows that when it comes to school I do not play. My kids rarely miss one day of school during the year and I am not exaggerating! All of my kids have tons of perfect attendance awards that begin from the very start of their education. Since September Jazz has missed half a day because of a interview for high school, Tj has missed one because he was very, very sick, K.K. has missed one because she was very sick and Nannah has missed zero days. And no one has been tardy either.

Some of my family members think I am too hard on the kids when it comes to attendance. I feel I am teaching them school is important and you need to be there every day. You would be expected to go to work everyday if you have a job and school is their job.

What do you think? Was attendance in school important while you were growing up? Do you stress attendance with your own children?