I have a card on my desk.  It's on a card that was given to me by a former manager who I really admired and I wish I’d stayed in touch with.  "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." -Katherine Hepburn

I’m one of those people who finds it hard to follow all the rules. I follow them, because I have to, but I must admit I’m not very good at it.  I try to be good, but I don’t know why I have such a hard time being 100 % good.  My husband says I’m a rebel.  I think most people would laugh if they knew that about me.  I don’t think too many people see me as a rebel or a rule breaker.  The funny thing is I’m like a closet rebel.  Okay, so I said it.  My secret is out.  I’m a closet rebel!  A secret undercover rebel.

The girls I work with crack up because I have a business card holder from Anne Taintor.  It reads, “Someone was going to have set a bad example.”  It is such a perfect business card holder for me because I’m like the worse person to put in charge of anything.  I’m a terrible example.

The hilarious thing about all this is that right now I’m being faced with the importance of following the rules.  Today my husband Rey and I have our first, of probably many, parent teacher conferences for our son.

He is having a very hard time adjusting to Pre-K.  If that wasn’t bad enough he’s become a nuisance to the class. I’m worried.  He has started off on such a bad foot that now I’m afraid he’s established a very bad reputation and he’ll never be able to live it down.  First impressions are lasting impressions and I hate that he will forever be labeled as a bad kid.  Thank goodness that if he survives this school year we are applying for another Magnet program at my daughter’s school.

My sister quotes from somewhere (sorry I don’t know the original source) that “Kindergarten is the boot camp of life.” With so many kids going to Pre-K today I guess the same can be said about it.  My son became accustomed to the same baby sitter since he was 12 weeks old.  He was a little spoiled by her. Now he’s being forced to conform to rules and order.  To the rules of life.  Be nice, play nice, don’t hit and listen to the teacher.

So now I, the one who has problems following the rules, have to show my son how to follow the rules. Isn’t that lovely?   I must admit it feels a little hypocritical at times.

I also have to admit that I can help laughing at his reasoning sometimes.  I kind of don’t blame him for finding all the order and rules a little ridiculous, but unfortunately it is what it is.  He has to conform during this phase of his life just like all of us have to when we’re in school.  There will be plenty of opportunity for self expression when he’s older.  For now, he has to follow the rules.