Finally.

This morning, I was caught in a dilemma.

It was a call of integrity (maybe it may seem exaggerating to you to be using such a word) or convenience.

What would you have done?

...

She knew she needed to get on the school bus. She knows that.

Well, she was having difficulty waking up already. I bet she slept very late last night. Despite the fact that we had 'agreed' that the kids will turn in AT 10pm.

I slept at 1040pm and she was still up and jumping then. God knows what time she went to bed. And I don't care, really.

Anyway, she was still asleep by 840am. The bus comes at 905am by the way.

I woke her up and she said she was tired. Well, what can I do?

Then, she got dressed and we were all ready to set off.

After throwing a tantrum at me --it happens all the time-- she looked almost ready. And I was glad.

850am.

This is the usual time we will set off to the bus stop. We would have ample time to get the trash out and stroll to the bus stop.

She chose to want to run upstairs and 'get some thing'.

And then she ran to the basement to get 'other stuff'.

855am.

She then spent the next few minutes stuffing her Pokemon folder and Pokemon cards into her little pink bag.

Her folder is massive and her bag is tiny.

I reminded her that the bus was coming and she ranted her usual "whatever!" (with a I-don't-care accent).

Ok lo.

Then I reminded her again that she needed to get her chores done before we set off.

I got another one of those looks.

903am.

I told her...'I am not going to nag anymore but I hope you remember that we are walking to school if you miss the bus.'

I got another one of those snouts and a look.

Whatever, I was thinking to myself.

905am.

She got her stuff together and decided she will go to the bus stop.

I was almost certain that she would miss the bus.

Sure thing, I wasn't surprised.

And I wasn't surprised when she asked me to take the car.

"Can we take the car?"

"Um, no" I answered, as a matter-of-factly.

I was hesitant, to be honest.

I wasn't sure if I really wanted her to be late but I was sure I wanted her to learn her lesson.

She knew she didn't have so much time to play with. She knew she needed to walk to school should she miss the bus. I wanted her to fully understand this lesson.

On the way there, we ran into her mother's cousin (Oh no!) and she offered us a ride.

I declined.

I told her, I am sorry but she needs to learn a lesson.

Deep down inside, it was another struggle. What if the mom finds out and interrogates me about it?

While she had shown her approval in our discussions, I think she isn't as keen as the dad is in terms of such a methodology.

I asked the kid if this affair should be just between us, or if I should tell the parents. She refused to answer me.

Hhmmm...

It was quite a walk and fortunately or unfortunately, she wasn't late.

When she finally realized her bag was not going to contain the cards, she told me to bring them home.

"No. You brought them here."

"And I changed my mind and said "You sure? You won't ever get to see them again."

So, she changed her mind too.

I found out that she was bringing the cards to school to trade with her friend.

...

The thing is, I knew one of these days, this was going to happen, since she loved delaying and procrastinating.

I just hadn't expected today to be THE day.

While I had posed a great inconvenience to myself as well, I am glad I stuck with my stand.

Let's just say that I hope she learns her lesson after today.

Although I realy wouldn't mind it if she doesn't.