Jacob

The other day Jacob was caught stealing another kid’s snack at school. He then preceded to lie about it to his teacher. Of course his teacher contacted me about it as soon as she confirmed that Jacob had been untruthful with her. We called Jacob down and asked him about it. He proceeded to talk circles around what happened but denied taking the snack. I said ok we believe you I’ll let your teacher know. He went back upstairs but came back down a couple minutes later to edit his story; not telling the truth excatly but admitting half. Dad and I talked to him about being honest and owing up to mistakes. He shook his head yes and went to bed.
The next morning I told him I expected him to apologize to his teacher for being untruthful. That gave him pause, he thought the topic was finished. As he was leaving for the bus, and after he was told he couldn’t have his iPod until he apologized, he started to really whine and drag his feet. I could see how uncomfortable he was as about this. He tried to talk his way out of apologizing every which way but nothing could be said to not do it. As he dragged his feet out of the garage with his head down I yelled after him, “I’d do it first thing to get it over with!”
Well after school Jacob came home. He hadn’t been home too long when he went to pick up his iPhod. I asked if he had apologized. He said yes at the end of the day. I ask what she said. He said “well I don’t know if she heard me.” Oh well in that case no iPod. Boy did he throw a fit then! Crying, flopping on the group, moaning, that went on for sometime.
The next day at school he apologized to his teacher. I asked Jacob, "Did you like the way you felt yesterday?" He, of course, said no. I told him he never had to feel that way again if he was always truthful and did the right thing. A little light bulb of understanding crossed his face as he smiled and shook his head. Here's hoping that lesson stay with him.