You annoy me.
I know kids will be kids. And while you can't necessarily stop your child from being a brat, you can interfere at the moment of offence and create a learning atmosphere. Here's an example. If you see your child throwing rocks, approach the child.
Parent: "Johnny, please don't throw rocks. You could hurt somebody by doing that."
See, isn't that simple? You've created a learning moment. Now, I know this may sound like a challenge (especially to the mother sitting under the park shelter so interested in her own conversation with her friends that she isn't so much as occasionally turning her head toward her child throwing rocks), BUT, it can be done.
And, when your child displays early warning signs of a delinquent vandal, please address the child and the situation. For example, if your child rips the streamers off of another child’s bike. Please don’t look at the afflicted child and say, “Ah, you look sad.” I would recommend a sincere apology. If you’d like to go the extra mile I recommend actually offering to pay for the damage/replacement of the bike streamers. Finally, I recommend some form of discipline for the delinquent child. A forced apology from the delinquent to the afflicted child is just not enough to teach the lesson.
Please, Idle Parent, take interest in raising your child. Because, I don’t want my tax dollars paying for your brats meals while in juvenile detention.
Sincerely,
Bekah
I've discovered something incredible. Cracker Barrel offers a Country Meal To Go. It is a complete meal for six which includes an entrée, three sides, plus biscuits or corn muffins. All for $34.99!!! That's right, a home cooked meal for six (very hungry) people. It is so yummy.
My family consists of two adults and two kids. There is so much food we can eat like pigs the night we order and have plenty of left overs for a least one more meal, sometimes two. It is well worth the $35. You should definitely try it.
Tonight we went to the candy store and told our kids they could each pick one candy. It didn't take long before my son spotted exactly what he wanted. The Grouchy Garbage. He held on to that little garbage can and knew without a doubt that it was what he wanted. My daughter knew exactly what she wanted as well, it was one of the first items she spotted, the Baby Bottle Pop. However, in typical female style, she placed it back on the shelf and continued to browse the entire store to make sure there wasn't any other item that might cause her to change her mind.
I guess what amazed me most was that my son, as he held tightly to his desired item, followed along looking around but with no intention of changing his mind. He'd never tried this candy before - so how was he so sure that it was what he wanted? It baffled me. I tried to point out other options - things that he had tried before that wouldn't cause any disappointment or surprise. But he stood firm in his decision, almost irritated that I would try to sway him from his decision. He didn't have a clue what was in there, all he knew was that it was candy. I wondered, "Is it sweet? Is it sour? Is it chewy?" He didn't care.
So, why do I share this story? I don't know. It just intrigued me. However, if you can find some kind of lesson learned or biblical application from it I'd love to hear it.
BTW - my daughter (after 10 minutes of browsing) ended up with the Baby Bottle Pop. Isn't that just like a girl!?!
We went to the circus last night and had a blast! Brian and I both agreed it was the best circus show we've ever seen. If you get the opportunity - go! The acts they have just keep getting better every year. Some of our personal highlights from this year's show: -Preshow three ring adventure. We arrived an hour early and were able to join in the various preshow activities on the floor. You can see some of the animals up close, interact with the clowns, get autographs, try on costumes, and so much more. The kids really enjoyed this. -It's an upside down world. These two clowns dangle like bats more than forty feet up in the air. They juggle, dribble a basket ball, and dance all upside down! It was amazing. -The classic clown car. We counted 10 clowns climbing out of the Volkswagen like car. -Crazy Wilson . This man is just that...crazy. He climbs this giant pendulum that has a turning wheel and does flips and crazy jumps both in the wheel and on it. And then he continues his testing of fate by combining a high-wire act with trampolines. Crazy. What topped it all off was that Brian's brother, Tom, surprised his family with tickets and we ran into them before the show and enjoyed the preshow together. Ah, what a fun time.
Last night a group of families from our church met at a local park and just hung out together. It was a blast! Thanks to Tom and Mindy Herzog for organizing the event.
I believe what made it a success was there wasn't an agenda. We weren't getting together for a bible study, baptisms, or small group. Not that any of those are bad - it was just nice to have a group of friends enjoying each other. We definitly need to have those gatherings more often.
Thanks Tom and Mindy.
Being the parent of young children is a challenge. Most people don't sympathize with this challenge unless they have been there themselves. Even then, some forget. There is no worse feeling than being in a public place challenged by your child and getting judgmental stares from on-lookers.
But you, Dear Lady, were a gleam of sunshine for me today. Not only did you let me get back into line after chasing my out-of-control son around the post office. You cheerfully helped me juggle my boxes and even managed to give me a compliment about my child.
Thank you. Your kindness was boundless!
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Okay, so I've just dropped my daughter off for her first day of school. I really thought I was ready for this but it was a lot tougher than I expected.
The past five years have been incredible. Through her I've been able to discover my own femininity and I have learned so much about being a daughter loved by God. I feel honored that God chose me to raise this beautiful little girl. I love her infectious laugh, serving heart, sensitivity, adventurous spirit, dramatic expressiveness, and curiosity of life. She is smart, silly, organized and neat. I love that she sings all of the time, anywhere. I love her theatrical performances and her love of amusing people. She really is amazing.
So, here we are. Ready to embark onto a whole new adventure together. Her a school girl, me a students mother.
Sunflower at proposed size on July 8, 2005.
Last spring I attended an orientation night for parents of kindergarteners in our school district. At the end of the evening the science teachers handed each parent 3 sunflower seeds. They said if we planted them soon that by the time school was to begin in the fall that the sunflower would be as tall as the child entering kindergarten. Well, have a look at this mammoth! We're going to cut it down and send it with Kiersten to school to give to her teacher! It'll be a fun first day!
Actual flower size...wow!
This is the week. Tomorrow is my last day with my daughter officially being a "pre-schooler". As of Wednesday she'll become a true kindergartener and I'm paranoid!
I took that past few weeks to break from blogging and said I would return once school was here. I am looking forward to blogging again, this time I will blog from a whole new perspective!
I know I'm supposed to be off for a few more weeks but after talking to Addie today regarding this hot new fashion trend I just had to blog. Ironically we both read the same article and enjoyed a great laugh. I hope she posts regarding this fashion violation as well - she's so witty I'd love to hear what she has to say (hint, hint, Addie).
Check out Muffin-top Mayhem here.
