Patterns

My baseball coaches always said the same thing. "Practice the way you want to play".
What this means is ALWAYS do it the same way.

For two years now, Sterling has participated in taekwondo. Two practices a week for two years, Monday and Wednesday. Same time (5pm), same place. Our routine is simple. He comes home from school at 3:20. We discuss his classes. He plays with friends until 4.
At 4pm he is in the house. I lay his uniform on the dining room chair and make him a snack. He, in turn, eats and gets dressed.

Sounds simple!

A few days ago we had an issue with his time management. Or lack, thereof. Yesterday I decided to test his time management skills. I wanted to gauge where he was at...and now I know.

4pm rolled around and he wasn't here. I had his clothes out to remind him of what day it was. 4:10 he came home and immediately plopped in front of the tv, turned on cartoons and started playing his DS (hand held video game). 4:20 he jumped up and made himself a snack.

Not a bad start, thought I.
Here, however, is where he went South.
4:30 and the uniform was still on the chair.
We need to leave the house by 4:35/4:40 to get there on time. Knowing it would take at least 5 minutes for him to get ready...I quietly grabbed my coat and car keys and waited until 4:35.
"Get your uni on, put your dirty dishes and glass away, turn off the tv, turn off the lights, lock the door AND HURRY! We only have 5 minutes and we're gonna be late! I exclaimed in a fake excited voice.
Out to my car I went.
Five minutes passed and no Sterling. So, I went back inside to see what was up.
BANG! I opened the door.
He was 3/4 dressed, tv still on, dishes away, all lights still on.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING"? I bellered. "WE'RE GONNA BE LATE...HURRY"!
Back to the car went I. About two more minutes and he was sitting next to me.
"Did you lock the door"? I asked.
"HUH! You didn't tell me to lock the door"! He responded.
"Yes I did. Go do it".
He ran back to the house, locked it up and ran back to the car.
I drove as quick as I could, but was hoping we would be late to further make the point. But, we made it with two minutes to spare.

I wonder at what age boys pay attention to time. I can't remember.
I did enjoy the little "test". The expression on his face when I came back inside the house was worth being late. If we had been.