Things I overheard: Casi

"Ahh, the scent of new clothes and fear".

A Jr High teacher to 7th grade students on their first day of school.

Beginning 7th grade is everything I remembered as I witnessed it through the eyes of my daughter (who handled the changes way better than I) and my own experiences this year. Casi, Nate and I dealt with overworked counselors who do not listen or seem to care, teachers with extensive school supply lists, and 8th and 9th graders who appear larger than life.

"There is one section where the 8th and 9th graders cross the 7th grader hall, its crazy getting through. The 8th and 9th graders cross east to west with their friends laughing and talking. The 7th graders who seem so small in the mix of students, cross North and south. Clutching their books with worried expressions on their faces."

On the day Casi and I worked to complete the "extensive" school supply list, we spent many many hours together in the car, in the store, in the next store, in another store, on the phone calling another store, in the store again... and another store and another store. After three hours we never did finish the list but we did enjoyed ourselves. Here are a few of the things we talked about:

Casi: I like this song! *pause* "I like it when a song you like is new and they play it all the time."
*"Gives you hell", by American Rejects plays on the radio*
Me: Confused (as usual) "This song isn't new."
Casi: "Well it was!"
__________________________________________

Me: "You look cute today"
Casi: " I prefer Hot, Mom. "
Me: "You cannot attain hot until your 18! I will not have you describing yourself as hot (nor will I) until then" I replied in a sarcastic but stern voice.
Casi: Mockingly replies "Oh, she looks so warm today."
We both laughed and now use this phase to describe anyone with a great look.

Disclaimer: My inability to call Casi "hot" has nothing to do with me thinking she is ugly. I think she is a gorgeous girl (I made her myself). It has more to do with me trying to be funny with her. (and I was) .  I was playing on the thought that all mothers (including myself) have a hard time letting there kids grow up. So please let me hold back their development just a little. If only by keeping thong undies out of her drawer and certain sexually descriptive vocabulary from being directed towards her. Like I told Tanner last night, " If I hug you hard enough and long enough, will you stop growing so fast?" He of course giggled and we hugged tightly for an undetermined amount of time. I know slowing their growth and (perhaps) sexual development is a hopeless cause, a mother can try. Can't she?

In Casi's Math class, Casi was assigned a seat behind an 8th grader who is tall, wide, and smells bad " I spent the whole period with my nose in my sleeve and leaning to the side to see the board."

Due to the difficulties she experienced, she asked to be moved and ended up sitting next to this little rebel; an 8th grader who likes to cause trouble. He is openly disrespectful to the teacher and other students. Seeing a new victim, he spent the entire period tossing small bits of paper at Casi. She would then gently brush the paper off her desk and go on with her work. After hearing this story (and a few others) I could tell there would be many stories regarding this little gem of a student.

Me: "We should give him a special name. It will help relieve stress and make the stories more funny instead of irritating"
****long pause****
Casi: " How about Tomato.
Me: Tomato?
Casi: Yea, he has a weird name like Mataoe"
Me: "Oh, I was thinking of something more like dumb ass."
*of course, we went with Tomato. *

If there is one thing Casi should understand by now, it is my sense of humor.

Disclaimer: at no point in time would I ever be serious about encouraging my 12 year old daughter to call another person a dumb ass. This comment was only said, in case you didn't notice, after she found her own name. And it was said (as with most of my comments) to be funny . 

Also, I would not suggest using such humor on all kids, Casi has a very adult understanding of humor (especially mine). Tanner on the other hand, if I had this conversation with him would be walking around saying "dumb ass" and giggling every time he said it. Therefore I would not use such a technique on this child.

Oh and one more thing, because I just enjoy saying it, in the words of Red Forman from That 70's show "Don't be a dumb ass" .