When School Ends

Today was the first day that J and C didn't have their co-op classes.  J had a lot of other work to do, but C had nothing in particular.

She spent about an hour and a half making pretend meals using construction paper, scissors, and glue. After she cleaned up her mess, she decided to write a story.  She used the word processor on my iPad, and took nearly two hours to write it.  Then she helped straighten the living room in case J's friend was able to come over (turned out that he couldn't, though).

In many ways, she's much harder to parent than either of her siblings were at her age (7 1/2).  But neither of them would have had the drive to start such extended projects and see them through to completion.

Oh - and we had nachos for dinner.  She doesn't care for them, so I warmed up some leftover meatballs.  Feeling grateful, she decided to give me a compliment.  "Momma, you're kind of pretty!  And I hardly notice those grey hairs - or the other old-people things about you - I hardly notice them at all!"

All in all, it was a good day.

*******

Her story:

Here is her story:

My dog [fiction story]

It was a sunny morning at 8:00. Everything seemed right.  But there was one problem.

My dog was wailing, I am hungry!!!  It was his feeding time. He was frustrated since his food was taking a very long time.  But I  was doing my chores . Then I decided to have a spot of tea and play a game with my brother. After a while I realized I should go and check on my dog. When I reached his doghouse, he was wailing , arooww! When I looked in his food and water dish I knew I should have fed him at 8:00.

So I say very softly , don't worry boy. But as soon as I get in I forget. Then I remember. I quickly sprint outside, grab his food and water dish, fill them up with puppy chow, and bring them outside.

When I get outside, my dog licks my face.  Then he eats his puppy chow right down.
The end.

Saying Goodbye

C: Mom, should I buy this little stuffed animal? I've wanted it for a very long time, and it's only $5!

Me: Well, I don't think you should. You have so many stuffed animals already that this one will probably just be forgotten in a few days.

C: But I have the money with me.

Me: Well, but later you might find something else that you want more.

C: I guess so. (Returns stuffed animal to rack, then returns.). Mom, I don't like putting stuffed animals back on the rack.

Me: It's hard.

C: Yes! Plus they look at you with such frustration and shame when you do it!

That Nagging Feeling

If I am running the carpet machine, and I'm on a deadline, and someone interrupts me repeatedly with requests for things that can easily wait, and I've stopped the machine and respectfully answered all the questions and followed with polite requests to not be interrupted, then when that person comes back, is it rude to say, "I'm asking politely that you let me finish my job, but what I mean is, 'don't interrupt unless the house is on fire?'"

Asking for a friend...

Instructions For Life

C is playing with her stuffed animals. She has the sturdy box that my Instant Pot came in, and she's arranged her favorite animals a number of times so they fit just right and can be accessed in order of importance. After she's found the best method, she turns to me.

"Momma, can I make a YouTube tutorial on how to put your 10 best friends in a box?"

Ahead of Her Time

Irony: Your seven year old saying, with great disdain, "I can do without the sarcasm."

Condensed Thoughts

C enjoys playing around on Khan Academy.  She doesn't limit herself to second grade math, however.  Sometimes I find her learning about biology or history.

Today I was again trying to help her understand why certain types of behavior are undesirable.  The discussion was lengthier than either of us wanted.  At the end, she said,

"So what you're saying, but NOT in expanded notation, is that I shouldn't do that any more.  Right?"

Note to self:  No more talking in expanded notation.

Learning From the Past

Teaching your 7 year old about America in the mid- to late-1800s is a dangerous thing.

Last week:
Me:  I asked you to straighten up the living room.  Why didn't you?
C:  I won't.  That's slavery.  Slavery is wrong.  You just want to use me for your own benefit.  I won't do it!

This week:
Me:  Maybe one day you'll have a child like you, and then you'll understand a little better what I'm trying to do.
C:  Everyone has their own personality.  Florence Nightingale probably had brothers and sisters, but you never hear about THEM, do you?  Because they're all different.  Harriet Tubman had brothers and sisters, but they were all different!  So you only hear about Harriet Tubman.  My kids will have DIFFERENT personalities!

At least it's fairly logical...

Green-Eyed Monster Love

C says I'm the best mom in the whole universe, but not to tell anyone else.

Me:  Can I tell my friends on Facebook?
C:  No!
Me:  Why not?
C:  They might get jealous.
Me:  True.
C:  All right!!  :)

The Brightest Pupil Ever

Me:  One of these days this is going to KILL me!

C (with a look of alarm):  Kill you?!

Me:  Oh, that's just an exaggeration.

C:  Well, I understand exaggeration.  You've been teaching me about it for 200 years now.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker...

C: Momma, can I please live with you forever?

Me: Well, you can stay with me for as long as you want. But one day you might have a husband, and he will probably have different ideas about where to live.

C: Oh. Momma, where do you find a husband, anyway? Do you go where all the stray men wander around and just pick one?