Pros vs. Conferences

My little social buzzard has been having some trouble controlling his talking at school lately, and after a series of consequences have done very little to halt his speaking out of turn, I was pinning all of my hope on his last day of school prior to conferences.

Cael boarding the bus last fall.  It was too cold for my brain or my camera today.

 "Cael, you know that I have your conference tonight, right?"

"Yeah, I know."

"You know what would make me happy, then?  If you came home from school today with a great report for me, and I could go to your conference tonight and hear good news from your teacher."

"Don't worry about it, Mom."

"I can't help but worry about you, Cael.  It's what I do.  Now can you behave today?"

"Yeah, I'll try."

"Please don't try, just don't talk unless it is allowed.  Now have a good day... I love you!"

"I love you too."

I'm sure he was listening.  At least he really seemed to be listening.  Okay, he probably wasn't listening.

"So how was school today?"

"Okay."

"Did you lose any of your smiley faces?"

"Yes, I lost one for talking on the rug."

"Oh, Cael.  I really thought you were going to try to control your talking today."

"I was.  But it's what I do, Mom."