In Which I Lament the Sad State of My Children’s Education…
Son and daughter are in the pool playing Horse with the basketball. Daughter misses her third shot.
“Ha! You’ve got an A.”
Daughter snorts at son. “I don’t have an A. It’s an R, idiot.”
“You need to go back to first grade,” son sneers self-importantly at daughter. “Listen closely. H-O-A-R-S-E.”
Daughter and adults laugh, causing the smile on son’s face to waver. “What?”
“That’s how you spell hoarse if you’ve throat hurts or something,” someone explains. “You’re playing HORSE, as in, the animal.”
Son ponders this for a minute, then smiles a bit sheepishly. “Oh, well,” he says. “You’re closer to losing then.”
There’s always a bright spot, I guess. Note to self: make children READ all summer. 
June 8th, 2007 at 8:58 am
Well…maybe he was playing HOARSE. Could happen.
June 8th, 2007 at 9:30 am
At least he didn’t think it was HORCE. I think your children are doing just fine, but the reading is still a great idea. Keeps ‘em out of trouble while they broaden their little minds.
June 8th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Hey, he at least had a real word. It’s an honest mistake to make. I never did understand how a horse got into basketball anyway.
My worry about my girls is that they’re growing up with a major southern accent…as in raised-in-the-sticks accent. They’re both very intelligent…but sometimes they sure don’t sound it.
Kira
June 8th, 2007 at 11:54 am
I’ve been trying to make my older one read this summer, something her teacher encouraged. She’s fine with reading, just not with being forced to read. To which I reply, “If you don’t like it, you may take a nap like your brother.”
June 8th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
I’d need the extra letter…I’d still get my a$$ kicked anyway.
June 8th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Jen, you’re right. I should have considered that.
Marilyn, I just wished they liked it more. My son has to read Silas Marner and Call of The Wild for summer reading and my daughter has to read Johnny Tremaine. (Which I already have thanks to Precious.
) Both of them are complaining. 
Kira, my kids are the same way.
Danniele, excellent. Of course, mine are at the age now where they’d rather nap.
Kimberly, I find it hard to believe that you aren’t good at whatever you set your mind to.
June 8th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Hey, watch what you say about southern accents. I may sound like that but my mind makes up for it. Fools a lot of people. Find something your kids like to read and then the “other” reading needs will follow. That’s what happened to me going into the 9th grade. Picked up my first romance novel and my life has never been the same. Made me read what was required of me and then my treat was to read what I wanted…
Have a wonderful weekend and bring on the RAIN. 
June 8th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Rhonda, obviously you’ve never seen me play sports…
July 4th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Hello
Great book. I just want to say what a fantastic thing you are doing! Good luck!
G’night