School Pick-Ups and Put-Downs

Why is it that my son always seems to be on his worst behavior of the day when I pick him up from school?

Do you notice this, too? I'm sure the aide believes I have no control over him at all. Other aides have in the past, and have chastised him in that "If I model proper parenting, maybe this poor stupid mother will pick up on it" kind of way. I'm assured that he doesn't behave like that during the school day (thank goodness, because his school day would be short). He doesn't behave like that at home, either. But since school personnel don't see him at home -- and if they did, he'd be so excited to have them there it wouldn't be a fair test -- my word doesn't coincide with their witness.

I don't think he acts up like this when his dad picks him up. The wildman show seems to be just in honor of Mom, and I will cling to the conviction that it's an "Oh, thank goodness, the one who understands me is here! I can let down my guard!" reaction, and not an "Oh, that patsy who never disciplines me is here! Par-tay!" one. I don't want to make a big show of berating him in public, in ways that I don't have to in private, just to protect my reputation. But boy, does he make me look bad.

School is tough stuff. School takes enormous will-power. Getting through the day without a behavioral breakdown is a triumph that he is achieving with increasing ease. Goodness knows I'm not going to begrudge the boy some after-school hooting and hollering. But dear child, couldn't you please just wait 'til we're in the minivan?