Party food, ie chocolate crackles, and a suspension from school? Let’s see if I can do a neat segue.
My friend’s son had a 5th birthday party yesterday afternoon. The night prior my friend rang to ask me for a chocolate crackles recipe. It so happened that I had all the necessary ingredients as this is something I promised to do with JJ. In a moment of weakness I offered to make them and bring them along with me.
It’s the first time I’ve made them and it was dead easy. The recipe is on the side of the Rice Bubbles packet.
You will need:
- 4 cups Rice Bubbles
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1 cup desiccated coconut
- 250g Copha
- 3 tbsp cocoa
In a large bowl mix the Rice Bubbles, icing sugar, coconat and cocoa.
S lowly melt the copha in a saucepan over low heat and allow to cool slightly. Add to the rice bubbles mixture, stirring well until combined.
Spoon the mixture into paper patty pans and refrigerate until firm.This will make about 24.
So I made these just before I went to school to pick JJ up. I was sitting outside his classroom when he came back with two other boys and the deputy principal and an envelope in his hand. The other boy said ‘we’ve been suspended’. Apparently there was an incident at lunchtime that involved kicking. I still haven’t got the full story but will find out at the suspension conference early this week.
JJ has had some detentions this year and it seems to boil down to mixing with this kid who gets him into trouble and not knowing how to behave in the playground. He also has trouble making friends at school.
I felt like I was rewarding him by taking him to the party but because it was a good friend’s birthday and we’d promised to go, we went. JJ is without tv and computer for one week and this will be reviewed after a week.
Just when I thought I’d achieved something with JJ’s behaviour this goes and happens. He’s fine (mostly) with me, and friends that had him for a couple of days over Easter noted that he was really good for them. So school, and this other kid, are the common denominator. The school wants to work with us to resolve this so this time I’ll be making sure that this happens.
Oh Jen – poor you and JJ.
I was reading the other day the difference between boys and girls and how testosterone can be a really huge influence on the former.
Such a pity that it has cast a pall on your weekend – and what are you to do on Monday? I hope the school can also give some insight on alternates they are contemplating about this behaviour.
Perhaps getting him to write the story of the incident down and his suggestions for what he should have done smarter and better might help?
As to the testosterone surges – the book suggests lots and lots and lots of running around or sporting activities!
You’re coming upon a time now where the influences of others really come into play Jen. This is a difficult thing for mums. The influence of this other little boy on JJ is obviously a negative influence….even though JJ may not see that. And this is where many mums start having problems with their child’s behavior. You may need to talk with the teacher to separate them as much as possible….especially if there’s a risk of suspension for JJ; and it doesn’t mean it will fix everything. You can’t be everywhere Jen…..that’s the frustrating part.
You’re a good friend for bringing these beauties to your friends’ kid’s party. What a great thing to do!
And, I do hope you will find some resolution for JJ and his school troubles. I can only imagine how tough and frustrating it must be for both of you right now.
Does the school have any counselling/guidance programmes? Is JJ working with someone at this stage? Not sure if that will help, but sometimes, getting a third party perspective can offer some fresh views.