Look at me, look at me, look at me, NOW....

I fear my child has become a showboat. Although I'd like to blame it on the recent changes like the birth of his sister and my returning to work, those changes have been in effect for well over six months, and his desire to be the center of attention continues. Granted he is funny, but perhaps our constant laughter at his jokes and antics has only perpetuated the madness.

Most recently, he has started interrupting adult conversations simply to show off a drawing, lego creation or one of his many new 'tricks'. It grates on my nerves.

I think it irritates me so much because it reminds me of a certain student I have, let's call her Layla for arguments' sake (and to save my arse from any complaining parents.) Layla has absolutely no self control. In the middle of class she blurts out whatever comes to her mind, interrupts me when I'm talking to both students and adults, and generally makes wildly inappropriate comments.

In the latest Layla escapade, I had noticed on Friday while waiting for her bus to be called, she was insisting other students read a story she had written in a green notebook. I had given her verbal warnings twice that same week for writing in the notebook in class, but had assumed it was schoolwork. Anyhow, I overheard Kaia and Colton (*names have been changed, as usual), the two students reading her story, expressing their disgust at the subject matter. Before I could step in, Layla's bus was called and she was out the door, but only after screaming for Sal to "COME ON, LET'S GO!" because she just can't control herself. *sigh*

After she was gone the students approached me to vent/gripe/complain/hope I would do something about the inappropriate material that was in the story. Surprisingly enough, they were too embarrassed to tell me what was in the story but would only say it was "perverted" and "something you would find in a certain mens magazine." Yikes! The fact that these 14 year olds, who normally have no reservations sharing things that make me blush daily, wouldn't share the details was startling!

So I dropped a quick email to her team, our 8th grade administrator Mrs. B, and our guidance counselor, Ms.H. and their advice was for the homeroom teacher Mrs. C. to take the notebook on Monday morning. Monday morning rolled around, and Mrs. C saw the notebook instantly, she went to confiscate it, but not before Layla could tear a page out of it. Mrs. C demanded the page, and received it only to discover the "disturbingly, inappropriate story." I can't wait to get with Ms. H and read it for myself!

In the end, because of her IEP, administration chose to issue a guidance referral for sharing the story with other students, as opposed to a discipline referral. Throughout the day, though, Layla was relentless with all of her teachers, disrupting class insisting she had to go to the discipline office. It's ALL about her.

And so, this is my fear, with my own son. I don't want Collin to grow up with a look at me, I'm the center of the world, it's all about me attitude. I don't want my child to be the 14-year-old that writes a graphic sex story just to get the attention of his peers. I don't want my child to be the kid that teachers grit their teeth and gossip in the teacher's lounge over. So, I'm determined to stop the behavior in it's tracks...now if I could only figure out how.