The Long Walk to Redemption

Zach had a long walk to make this morning, a walk that would bring him redemption- whether he wanted it or not.

Yesterday, when I picked him up from school, I noticed his backpack had a few coins jingling around. I asked him where he got them, and he said his friend Jimmy had given them to him.

Then, during our conversation in the van, I asked him how his day had gone. He said he had a great day, and only got into a little bit of trouble. His teacher wanted to know where he got the coins from. He said he told her he had found them in the bark. I questioned his first statement that they came from his friend, and he assured me he told the truth about finding them.

So while I was cooking dinner, he told me that his teacher had taught him a cool way to count money today. What? You were counting money in class today?? I had just discovered a huge hole in his story, so I strapped him to the chair and questioned him only the way a trained "Mom Detective" could do. ;)

It turns out he found four pennies under his desk, and took them. When his teacher questioned him, he told her he had found them on the playground. He admitted he lied to her, and I was heartbroken.

I grabbed a notebook, and told him he needed to write his teacher a note, admitting to what he did and apologizing for doing it. I placed the coins in a paper bag, with his note- and put them in his backpack. I explained to him that if he delivered these to her, then I would not punish him for stealing and/or lying about it.

He was in tears almost the entire way to school this morning. I told him I would walk with him to his class, but he had to make the delivery to her.

The entire walk across the playground, he whimpered and drug his feet. And I discovered that the panic I felt as a little girl when I had to do the same thing, was still just as fresh in my mind as if it were yesterday. I think my walk this morning was just as difficult as his. I felt horrible for putting him through all this for FOUR CENTS!

We found his teacher, and he gave her the bag. I explained what was in the bag, and she asked him if he learned from it. I explained we had gone over how it feels to take things- and how horrible it feels to have your own things taken. He said he was sorry, and wouldn't do it again.

I told her that Zach was fearful of loosing his recess time, but if that's what she decided- then we would take our lumps. She said that she thought he had done enough, and thanked him. (I sighed the biggest relief I have ever had!)

He got a little crooked grin, and wiped his tears.

I gave him a hug, and told him how proud I was of him.

He said he was glad it was over. He wasn't the only one.

I cried on the way back to the van. I thought about how important it is to learn this lesson, earlier rather than later. I thought about my Grandma telling me "It isn't what you do when people are looking, it's what you do when no one is looking that matters."

I just know that his walk this morning was a long one, but it's the path I pray he stays on- cause I am not sure how much more of this 'grown-up' crap I can take.