Thursday, January 24, 2013

Permanent Record

Have you ever “googled” yourself? I bet you have. We are all curious about whatever information is out there about us, what we’ve left behind as we go through life, what, if anything, people will see if they “googled” us. There’s a lot about us that’s out there that’s permanent, footprints we’ve left deliberately or inadvertently. I think there’s more available on Baking In A Tornado than there is about me personally, and that makes me happy. I prefer the anonymity on the personal front.

When Older Son was really little he somewhere heard the term “permanent record”. He wanted me to explain it to him, which was difficult given his age. He listened and then asked about his own permanent record. We ended up having multiple conversations as I tried to assure him that it was really OK that he didn’t yet have a permanent record.


Permanent Record | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


When Older Son was in second grade the school district had the teachers fill out forms on the students rating their character. I was uncomfortable with the whole idea. One of the rankings concerning Jason surprised me and I went in to speak with the teacher. She gave me an example of the questionable behavior: She had asked for “p” words and Older Son said “potty”. After I got my jaw back under control I challenged her, “potty” IS a “p” word, isn’t a curse word and that answer does not rise to the level of her questioning his character. 

The scariest part was when I talked to Older Son about being careful about what he says in class, and he insisted that it was not him but his friend who has said it. His friend happened to be at our house and readily admitted (I’m sure his parents had no problem with the word either) that it was he (the friend) who used that particular “p” word. End result: I don’t believe schools should be documenting their assessment of a 7 year old’s character, I don’t consider the use of “potty” a character flaw, but bottom line my kid hadn’t even said it. I could just see him running for President one day and the opposition producing a whole commercial on Older Son’s use of “potty” on the second grade, resulting in his teacher’s questioning his character. I got the assessment amended.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately because my kids are at the end of their High School years. When they were younger, a lot of their choices didn’t have any long term consequences. Once they hit High School, though they are leaving their mark. They have to be more cognizant of not just what they do but how it is perceived, how it will be recorded.



Cinnamon Ginger Cookies | www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe
Cinnamon Ginger Cookies

And maybe I’ve been thinking about it because of this little conversation I had with the boys just the other day:

Me: “Do you want me to get you a parking sticker so you can park in the school parking lot?”
Younger Son: “No, there are more accidents there than you can imagine".”
Older Son (indignantly): “No, they take the drug dogs out there and they think just because you’re on school property, they have the right to just go and search your car.”

Could be he’s just trying to push my buttons (his favorite sport). Could be he’s going to have his wish for a permanent record after all. Could be I need to bake . . . after I search his room.



Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics
Cinnamon Ginger Cookies
                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com




Ingredients:
1 stick butter, softened
1 stick margarine, softened
3/4 cups sugar (plus more for rolling dough)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup cinnamon baking chips  

Directions:
*Beat butter, margarine, sugar, brown sugar, molasses, and egg until creamy.
*Mix in flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, cloves and salt
*Mix in cinnamon chips last. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.
 *Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheets with no-stick spray.
*Roll dough into 3/4 inch balls. Roll each dough ball in white sugar and put onto cooking sheet.
*Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on the cookie sheet for 1 to 2 minutes before removing. 



48 comments:

  1. You scare me more and more about the teen years. I'm dreading this. I'm buying drug dogs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know I'm only about 50% serious and 50% is "creative embellishments". That's my story and I'm sticking to it. . .

      Delete
  2. I don't think I want to know what my son's permanent record would say if they did a character assessment. *shudder* I would think him being on an IEP would save him. Some of the things he says in class... much worse than potty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ALL the kids say much worse things than "potty". Seriously, that teacher was upset about "potty"? Give me a break.

      Delete
  3. When I taught 4th grade a student informed me that a classmate had used the "C word". And, I panicked, how do I address this? The C word is the mother of all swears in my opinion. That word never leaves my mouth. Ever. I was sweating - and then decided to ask the student to spell the word for me very quietly in my ear. I bent over and heard her nervously spell out C-R-A-P.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's too funny. Good thing you stuck it out. Once I heard a 4th grader talking about the "C" word I would have quit my job, gone home, jumped in bed and pulled the covers over my head!

      Delete
  4. This is so true ... It's always going to make me nervous once Reagan hits the age where she begins to make her mark on society.
    Having said that .. I'm going to go google myself now. LOL

    xoxo
    Lanaya
    www.raising-reagan.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laughing, and wondering if you're going to share what you find.

      Delete
  5. If I had a nickel for every time I have used the word "Potty," I just might be worth something... Go figure. Good story. Take care, Slu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was under the impression that "potty" was one of the better options. . .

      Delete
  6. Its also possible hes just very aware of his rights. I always refused voluntary searches, even though I never had anything worth searching for on campus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He says he thinks it's wrong that because you are on school property you lose your rights. I remember feeling that way at his age too. He feels that you spend all that time in school learning about your rights, then they try to tell you that you have none there.

      Delete
  7. When my boy gets to be a teenager, I'm implementing a rule where I'll look at his eyes and smell him every time he comes home. Just don't ask me how I know what to look and smell for...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unfortunately, he knows how I know what to smell for. Well, I DID go to college, after all!

      Delete
  8. I think that's kind of ridiculous to rate someone's character based on what they say at age 8. My god, my boys' ratings would be in the toilet - literally - because of all their boy potty talk! You go, mama, for fighting for a change!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kathy. Really, a teacher who says "acrost" instead of "across" shouldn't be judging anyone's language in my opinion.

      Delete
  9. That teacher sounds like a major ding dong. Potty is a bad word? I'm so glad none of my little darlings were in her class. Yikes! And I also don't like the whole character rating. And I don't blame your son for not wanting to park in the school parking lot. I used to park in the high school parking lot when I was a teen and I would come out to my car and there would be banana peels stuck in my tail pipe or gross stuff smeared all over the cars. Gotta love the teens!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well, I know you said about Jason running as President and what they might say about him, but have you considered what they may say about YOU, the Presidents mama? and why her son Jason is potty mad? Believe me, it will be more than a short commercial ha ha ha ha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hilarious, I never thought about that. Maybe I'd better do the future of the country a favor and shut this blog down now before I do any more harm!

      Delete
  11. Character rating? In elementary school? Sheesh! Well, I guess I'd get into a lot of trouble then and be branded as a "questionable" character because I STILL call it a potty!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Teenagers....Fun! we get given these cute perfect little babies, not realising that inside lurks a teen ready and waiting to push all our buttons and drive us up the wall. Probably pushing buttons but check the room anyway - so much fun isn't it. Then before long (but hopefully not soon) they'll be married and presenting us with those perfect children, GRANDCHILDREN!!!!! yay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YIKES, grandchildren. Not soon, I hope. One thing at a time . . . next up is college!

      Delete
  13. I, too, shudder at the thought of my kids' permanent records. At one point my oldest son "made" a $20 bill in class. The teacher assured him it was legal, as long as somewhere on there it said it wasn't legal tender. And as long as he didn't try to spend it. He didn't, but his brother tried...and I got the call from the police, threatening the secret service. That is just one example of the many calls I received over the years.
    They're all grown, have never done jail time, and are productive adults. But that record is there, just the same.
    The scary thing is that those permanent records start so young, before there is any kind of mental filter in place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG, that's too funny, his brother tried to spend it? And just so I know, at what point is that mental filter going to kick in?

      Delete
  14. It really makes you think... How much this digital age preserves EVERYTHING we do and have done!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am surprised that a school would be rating a child character at that early stage of their life.
    Your cookies sound good!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank goodness he didn't say "poop" or the teacher may have pooped herself!! I never considered button pressing as a sport, but I'll just bet my husband would have lettered in it in high school. Now go "clean" his room ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I don't want to reveal too much about what's ahead Jen, but hold on tight!

      Delete
  17. I think he just wants to be a lawyer and is trying to make you proud he knows the property law?

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have googled myself and am amazed at how much is out there. Info and images. It's kind of scary.

    Can I have a cookie now? Those are one of my favorites!

    Phil
    www.blog.theregularguynyc.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is scary, right down to the value of your house. Of course you can have a cookie, that's why I included the recipe!

      Delete
  19. That teacher must be off her rocker! What kind of assessment was that?! Good for you for insisting on getting it amended!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We'd all like to thing that there's a collaboration between the family and the school to do what's in the best interest of the child. Unfortunately here that's just not true. Even in the best school systems, parents should always question.

      Delete
  20. That's crazy! She probably only wrote it 'cos she had nothing better on him. Maybe the parents should get to fill out a form on the teachers questionable character! What 'p' words was she hoping for, I wonder? My potty mouth can think of a few choice 'p' words to describe her questionable character!

    Oh, and the whole drugs in schools thing TERRIFIES me! My hubs is always finding and confiscating stuff at the school he teaches at:( Our own kids are a long way from being teenagers, but that stuff seems to be everywhere. I struggle with the idea that I can't and won't have absolute control over his choices, when he's at school or out socializing with his friends. I just hope we can give them the strength and ability to make the right choice when they're faced with the option. Which I KNOW they will be one day:(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think they'll ultimately make good choices, but I also know we all make mistakes along the way and THAT'S what terrifies me.

      Delete
  21. Mmmmmm these sound wonderful! Thank you for sharing them on Manic Monday!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. "You know that will go on your permanent record..." Yeah, that's been said a few times.
    Please, BTW, picture me asking 28 kindergarteners during alphabet week, "Friends, can anyone think of any words that start with F? Anyone? Someone, give me an F word.." Man, I miss teaching. ;)
    Your kids and my kids should have lunch and we should have... something else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, thank goodness this teacher didn't ask for an "F" word. What would she have done with "fart", had him carted off to jail?

      Delete
  23. Replies
    1. Hope you try them, they're one of my favorite winter cookies (because they're great with a hot drink sitting by the fire).

      Delete
  24. Great story. And great recipe. Love the combo of flavors. Nichi

    ReplyDelete

Warning: Comment at your own risk. I have Comment Moderation, meaning I approve all comments before they show up here. So go ahead, I'm not scared!