Plus, I’ve had a kazillion e-mails and comments about this which have all made me feel better. I love you guys like whoa. Seriously.

So, here’s the plan, at this point — Matt is being taken out of school, and we’re homeschooling. It has nothing to do with the quality of our school system and everything to do with the fact that I don’t feel I can trust him enough to allow him out of our house, even for school. That’s going to last at least this semester, but probably it will wind up lasting the whole year, unless, of course, I see some dramatic increases in Matt’s maturity and impulse control.

For the next five days, Matt is going to be in the Farm Springs Unit of the Ferrel Department of Corrections. He is confined to his room (which has been stripped of everything except his bed and his dresser) except to eat meals and to use the bathroom. Much like a regular prison system, his mealtimes will be on a schedule and of limited duration. His bathroom privileges are, as of right now, unrestricted; however, if he starts abusing those privileges, I’ll set a time limit for him to be in the bathroom.

After those five days are up, he’ll be confined only to our house but without any of his stuff back. He won’t have any restrictions on TV viewing, other than he’s stuck watching what the law-abiding citizens of this house choose to watch. He won’t be allowed phone calls, visits or any other form of contact with the outside world. For how long? I don’t know yet. I guess until I feel like he’s taking the idea that stealing is wrong a whole lot more seriously than he appears to be taking it right now.

Is this all hardcore? Yes, it is. Do I care? No, I do not. This isn’t our first rodeo with Matt playing the thief, but I’m sure hoping it will be our last. God alone knows I don’t want to play warden to my kids, but I also don’t want them landing themselves in the hoosegow because they’re stupid and impulsive and have no fear of consequences.

So. There you go. And thanks again to every last one of you for your well-wishes and support. It probably saved Matt’s life today.