05/04/09 Homework

When I picked Lacie and Paul up from school on Friday I saw that Lacie had a homework assignment due tomorrow (Tuesday.) She had to brainstorm what her favorite things are, then look through magazines and news papers for "favorite things" and then cut those items out. She is to return those cut items in a baggie on Tuesday. We spent about an hour on the project on Sunday and then about 30 minutes tonight finishing up. She loves to use scissors and cut and does not do a bad job with it.

Some of her favorites: a playground, bicycle, flip flops, sandals, cheerios, snack cup, grapes, macNcheese, ramen noodles, pizza, apple juice, flowers, zebra, pool, and a few other things. Then today she chose to cut strawberries. I reminded her that she does not like strawberries. Lacie responded with, "well, this girl can learn to like strawberries."

I have been reading a book about discipline. One idea is to not praise the child but encourage the behavior. This is not to say that children should never be praised - but the theory is pretty good and it is working. When I see behavior I like I say something like, "Mommy feels happy and is proud of you when you play with Paul, or hug on Paul or eat your dinner, or do what mommy asks without saying no or getting dressed in the morning by yourself, etc." She has recently asked is she is a good girl. I said, "of course you are a very good girl, but sometimes you do not make good choices, like: a, b and c." It seems that she is striving more to obey. (we are also utilizing Time out more often for offenses.)

Well, tonight I told Lacie that mommy felt proud when Lacie did her homework and when was sweet to Paul and loved on him. She then asked, "do you feel warm in your heart when you love on daddy?" I said yes. She then asked, "do you feel warm in your heart when I love on Euitag and Misty, but not Hannah who scratches and bites?" (Misty is our dog and Hannah our temper-mental cat - no one loves on Hannah.) She was too cute.

Speaking of offenses - yesterday she stuck her tongue out at me (which I thought was funny and cute - but had to pretend that it was not.) I told her that she would not stick her tongue out at mommy or anyone and she needed to go to time out. She began to cry and said, "I am sorry and I won't do it again." (This is where normally I would give in and let it go - but no longer.) I told her I appreciated her apology but she still needed to sit in time out so she would remember not to do it next time. She looked up at me and called me "You PICKLE!"

OK mommy hold it together - do NOT laugh out loud at your child who is going to time out. I have to say that I have never been called pickle before. With strait face I told her that she had to stay in time out longer for calling mommy a name. Guess what? She then said she was not going to be my friend any more.

Strait face strait face KEEP A STRAIT FACE - DO NOT LAUGH OUT LOUD! She was cute - really. But to time out she went. And she lost her shows for the evening.

Today she has been an angel - "I am really going to listen to you today mommy."

Over all my girl is a very very very good girl. My kids are awesome. When we have dinner out it is very common for people to come up to us and comment on how good our children are behaving and sitting still. We are very proud of our kids AND mommy's heart feels warm inside when I think of them.

Sorry no photos today.