The Crunch Bar Lesson

Yesterday Sydney learned a very important life lesson. It was difficult to learn the lesson, but I'm glad she did. One reason why public school is good--real, life lessons. Sometimes you have to experience something to learn the lesson. This was one:
Toward the end of the school day, Sydney had found a Crunch Bar, just lying around, I guess. She knew it wasn't hers, but didn't know who the bar belonged to. I really don't think she thought much about it, but her and another girl opened the bar and ate it. Then a boy comes along and asks where his bar went. That's when I think Sydney realized she did something wrong. The 2nd grade boy was rightfully upset (he earned the bar). It was reported to an adult and the adult said Sydney and the girl would see THE PRINCIPAL the next morning. Needless to say, Sydney came home upset. She was afraid she would get expelled. She was disappointed she had "sinned." She wrote the boy an apology letter and bought him another Crunch Bar to give to him. She was so worried about talking to the principal the next day. It was a good time to talk about repentance, the atonement, forgiveness, making right choices, being accountable, accepting responsibility, etc. After she left for school, Jeff and I were seriously hoping the principal was a nice guy, we don't know him well since we just started at this school. Thankfully, everything went well and they were pleased that Sydney had written a note and made the wrong, right. She came home sad because the office was going to give him another crunch bar too, but didn't since Sydney bought him one....so she thought she wasted her money. But we talked again that she did the right thing and that making the wrong, right (restitution) is part of the repentance process. In the end, I think she'll remember this experience, and if she doesn't, well, I documented it, and experienced learning from our mistakes.