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June 17, 2008

She called me out!

Yesterday was a typical Monday, I was tired the girls were whiny from a long weekend and we were butting heads. We were nearing 5:30, the arrival of daddy, preparation of dinner, and quite possibly the toughest time of day and Lizzie said something to me and I sighed and said "you girls are really frustrating me today". To which she responded, "why, you're the one with the bad attitude!" She was dead serious and I was shocked. My almost 5 yr old sounded like a smart mouth 15 yr old. I was angry, scared of her future adolescence and a bit humbled. She was immediately sent to her room where she awaited a talk with her dad who was on his way home. I was so angry but not quite sure if I was more angry at myself or at her. While I truly believe she was wrong in her tone and disrespect, she was also right in what she said.
I thought about it a lot last night and today. Lizzie continues to be such a reflection to me of my attitude as a parent. Tonight I realized what a wonderful thing that was. It can be completely annoying and aggravating but the alternative would be worse. If I only had Julia I could very well coast by for the most part. She doesn't challenge me to the depths like Lizzie does. Sure she throws her fits and still struggles with potty training, but she rarely challenges my character. I think its because Lizzie and I are very much a like and it often comes down to a struggle of control.
Lizzie is my accountability to be on my A game as a parent and I certainly can't do that on my own. It's a great reminder of my reliance on God to be able to be an example to these girls. How humbling is that, an example. I once heard a speaker say that parenting was about 3 things- modeling, teaching and holding accountable.
That same speaker also said- rules w/o relationship = rebellion and relationship w/o rules= permissiveness and self-centeredness.
With Lizzie I definitely have to balance rules and restrictions with maintaining a good relationship with her and more importantly investing my time with her. In all honesty this is sometimes challenging for me. But it continues to be reiterated over and over to me, what I'm called to do as her mom.
I'm so thankful to have a child that will help to refine me as a parent. I know that won't always be my attitude and this will be something we'll keep working as long as we're mother and daughter but its nice to have a bit of clarity in the midst of the everyday muck.

Posted by JennR at 9:31 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

June 16, 2008

That's a new one

I just settled a dispute with Lizzie and Julia that made me laugh afterward, and I definitely want to remember this one.

They are playing in the basement and I heard Julia screaming at the top of her lungs so I asked her to come sit in time out at the top of the stairs till she could calm down and we could figure out what the problem was.
Once she calmed down I asked her why she was screaming at Lizzie and she said she wasn't, she was screaming at her kids. (hmmm, trying not to take that as a reflection on my parenting) As it turns out she had been teaching an imaginary class and Lizzie took her imaginary kids and she was screaming for them to come back. LOL
So I asked her if she could pretend that an imaginary bus came and dropped off more imaginary kids and she could have a new class. (wailing) She answered "NO, I want my own kids back." She went down the stairs and asked her kids to come back to class and I heard Lizzie in a high pitched voice say "no, we're going to stay here forever". More crying from Julia. LOL This whole interaction is hilarious to me, that they are using imaginary kids as a pawn.

So how did I settled this little dispute? I went downstairs and asked the imaginary class to go back to Julia's class and asked Lizzie to be the librarian and we decided they would soon go back to the library for reading time. LOL

Kids names: Truman, Carter, Nina, McKenna, Alevi, Tressly, Jude and Kendal
But there are 10 kids, go figure that one!!

(these names were repeated to me more than 3 times and they are in library time now in case you are wondering)

Posted by JennR at 11:58 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

June 13, 2008

Knock Knock . . .

The girls have been into knock knock jokes lately, mostly Julia. It's pretty funny since they don't really understand the play on words and punch lines.
We told them one where you say "banana" when the person says who's there and then you repeat it over and over- "knock knock, who's there?, banana, banana who? knock knock, who's there?, banana, banana who? etc". And then before the irritation sets it, you answer with "orange" instead and when they say whose there, you say "orange you glad I didn't say banana". (it was crucial you know the joke for the story to make sense) lol
So in the van yesterday Julia is telling me a knock knock joke and it went like this:
J- knock knock Me- who's there?
J- chip Me- chip who?
J- knock knock Me- who's there?
J- orange Me- orange who?
J- knock knock Me- who's there?
J- banana Me- banana who?
J- aren't you glad I didn't say potato?

huh? LOL
(giggles from the back seat at her own joke)

Lizzie tried her version of it as well but switched the words so she started with orange and kept repeating it and I wondered if she would realize it didn't make sense. But she didn't and ended triumphantly with banana and said- "Aren't you glad I didn't say orange"!
And more giggles from both my little comedians.

Posted by JennR at 10:22 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

June 11, 2008

Lovely

Thanks Aunt Jodie for the beautiful picts!!!

Posted by JennR at 3:29 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack