Privilege and Feet

Owen stayed home from school today.  Reportedly he had a "crack in his throat," a headache, a sick stomach and felt bad all over.  Boy did his energy peak when I told him if he was too sick to go to school then he was also too sick to play video games or be on the computer.  That didn't go over well.  It's lunchtime now and I've already had two calls for him.  The first was a kind and gracious apology for his earlier behavior.  He agreed that since he had the privilege of staying home because he didn't feel good that I was right and he agreed he shouldn't play games/computer.  However, he did feel obligated to point out that school was over at 2:00 so he should be able to play then.  I could feel the hopeful expression pulsing through the phone line.  I told him he might be able to after I got home.  Now he just called me and I can't even remember what the hell his argument was this time.  He was doing his best to be EXTREMELY charming.  Eventually I said it was up to his father.  He told me Ernie was at Schnuck's and said he'd have him call me.  I thought that meant when he got home.  Nope...Ernie just called me from the produce section.  He said Owen was REALLY putting a lot of thought into this.  We giggled....wondering what he could do if he applied this energy to school.  I told him it was up to him but not at 2:00....it had to at least be after 3:00.

Honestly, he may very well not feel great.  Even Leo said he didn't feel well this morning but he never suggested not going to school.  Him I trust on these matters.  Owen?  Well, Owen I certainly trust with my heart but apart from that..... 

The other day, while we were on our walk in Busey Woods, Owen stopped and kneeled down to tie his shoe.  Then he looked up at me and said, "you know.....maybe I shouldn't say this....but I kind of like the smell of my feet."  I looked at him and said, "uhh....good."

Lord but I love that boy.