To give DD (8) a seedling oak tree to take to school?

[listsandbudgets]

DD goes to bed at 8pm. At 7.45 she decided to announce that she has to do a talk tomorrow about how plants grow and illustrate it with appropriate props.

I directed her to the appropriate pages of her junior encyclopedia then went out into the garden and pulled up a seedling oak tree (about 6 inches high). A squirrel had conveniently buried an acorn in my mint pot and said oak tree is complete with the split open acorn roots and small twiggy tree with a few leaves.

DD burst into tears saying it wasn't good enough she was meant to have lots of pictures and props.

AIBU to have sent her to bed with encyclopedia and popped oak tree in pot ready for her to take in the morning? She's had all weekend to talk to me about this and she chooses to tell me just before bed on Sunday night despite me asking her twice over weekend what her homework was.

Nope, not unreasonable at all. She had her chance(s) to tell you, she didn't, she takes the consequences. But then I'm hard core. You'll no doubt get lots of replies saying help her out tomorrow, but I wouldn't.

If she wants to get up early, I'd set my alarm for her, but no more than that.

How else will she learn if she doesn't know the consequences. Your idea sounds very good but it's also shows very last minute work. Next time she will definitely remember how it feels to produce something she has left till the very end.

you are doing the right thing.

I agree with the others seems fine considering she made no effort.

How old is she?

My DS is 7 and it is all in his homework book which I check still.

oh sorry just read she is 8.

Starlight she forgot to write it in her book so I was non the wiser until 40 minutes ago. Her dad has just gone to explain photosynthesis to her and help her draw a diagram to explain it (he's softer than me )

Well hope it went well and lesson learnt

You did more than I would have done!

I hope it went well for her.

She should learn not to leave it till the last minute and YANBU but I do think schools are going OTT with homework nowadays. I wasn't expected to do a big presentation with props and diagrams at that age! I would have crashed and burned but then I was shy and struggling with undiagnosed special needs so maybe the average 8 year old could cope but she's clearly feeling under pressure if she's in tears about it.

Yippeee she (I) got a house point for her (my) original idea and great talk about how plants grow.

Didn't teach her the lesson I was hoping for then.