Ryan’s geometry book has been sitting on top of the dryer for about two weeks.  I finally got tired of looking at it and asked him about it this morning.  “Oh yeah, that’s our book,”  he said.  I was a little confused.  I don’t remember buying a geometry book.

“They wouldn’t take it back because the edges are all frayed since it’s been in my backpack.”  Apparently the book is the first in a two part series and when the teacher collected them his fell in the ‘you’ve got to be kidding me, you think we’re going to take that thing back?‘ category.  It did look pretty bad.

“So did the book cost you any money since they won’t take it back?” I asked.

“Yeah, fifteen bucks.”  He did not look happy.

I had to chuckle at his next words, “I am so not going to use the other book.  It’s upstairs in the cupboard and I’m not touching it.  I’m going to use hotmath.com instead.  It’s going to be brand new when I return it.”  He was on a roll.  I started laughing.

I’ve written about Ryan and his late library book before.  I didn’t even know about the late book fee until I found some change in his backpack.  Same with the geometry book.  I didn’t even know he needed to replace the book until I got sick and tired of looking at it on top of the dryer.

That’s what happens when you put kids in charge of their own stuff.  Hey, it wasn’t my fault that he kept his geometry book in his backpack until it was falling apart.  I’m so not paying for that.  And considering the new book is hidden in the cupboard upstairs, well that just shows he learned a lesson.   And that’s what giving kids responsibility does.  At least when they’re held accountable.  But that’s another story.