Time Out

Gotta record Ellison's first (and hopefully only) time-out at school:

So, as I was picking up Ellison in the carpool lane, one of her teachers, Mrs. Medley, said, "Well, I'll tell you about it, since I'm sure you'll hear about it anyway. We had a little incident today..." My initial thought was that Ellison had somehow been done wrong by a little classmate. Reasonable thinking, considering the fact that she's been a little doormat with other children who are being assertive or aggressive. Imagine my surprise when Mrs. Medley goes on to explain to the contrary. Apparently, Ellison was playing grocery store along with another classmate, and Mrs. Medley saw Ellison push the other girl out of the way to get something. Mrs. Medley told Ellison that she needed to say "Excuse me" in the future, and she needed to apologize. Ellison WOULD NOT do it. She apparently kept trying to distract Mrs. Medley during the battle-of-the-wills, by saying things like, "Do you like my shoes?", etc. Mrs. Medley told E if she didn't apologize that she would have to go in time out, and then she would STILL have to apologize. She then said, "Do you want to go in time out?", to which my daughter nodded her head! (Ooh, that girl is STUBBORN). So into time out she went, and after her time was up, Mrs. Medley STILL had to go back-and-forth with her before Ellison finally apologized!!! I'm getting glimpses into my future here... When I talked with Ellison about obeying her teachers, apologizing, etc., she said, "I'll try harder next time, Mom".

I couldn't help but think it was kinda funny (without her presence, of course). Daddy laughed, Grandma laughed, that strong will is just SO Ellison. The funny thing was, we had been trying to teach her to stand up for herself when other kids are taking things from her, being forceful with her, etc. Either we're confusing the hell out of her, or she's a little Jeckyl & Hide.