Thankful for little things
Even though spring break isn't going as planned, things are turning out ok.
My Son and oldest daughter both have learning issues and we've been struggling through books, homework and teacher conferences over the past couple of years. My son has come through it and has been put back into a normal curriculum. My oldest daughter's first grade teacher was threatening to flunk her, so we've been doing extra homework, tutoring and anything to keep her from repeating the grade. It's working and she can finally read and write which is a major relief for me.
With my youngest daughter, we were just letting kindergarten do it's thing and hadn't started hitting the books yet. Other than reading to her, we hadn't done any major school work at all.
Last night I was at the table eating dinner with the wife when my youngest daughter sat down at the table and read us a book. I was floored. She taught herself how to read like it was no big deal. We sat there while she went through three books. I'm stll in shock.
I was dreading next year when I would have to drag them through three sets of homework each night but it seems they are all becoming self sufficient in that regard.
My oldest daughter was sitting with me at the computer while we watched old music videos on youtube. I was trying to show her ones that she would like. She kept telling me the singers and dancers should wear more clothes and not show their stomachs and cleavage. (tummies and boo boos) I don't think she knows how glad I am to hear that coming from her.
All the kids are losing teeth and the tooth fairy is running ragged. We've got a three tooth backlog because they want to maximize their reward by turning in one at a time. I'm not sure how long I can keep up the charade. They already found my stash
of toothfairy coins and I had to explain why all my baby teeth are in a glass vial in our memory box. I told them the tooth fairy mails all your teeth back when you turn 18. They seemed ok with that explanation.
My son just got braces and we're doing the monthly orthodontist thing. He took it better than I imagined. Always before he would freak out and cause a scene whenever it involved shots or teeth. I'm glad he outgrew the embarassing screaming fits at the doctors office.
Even with all the tough stuff, things are working out ok. I guess the hard work is finally starting to pay off.
posted by Bill Rowland @ March 14, 2007
27 Comments
27 Comments:
Oops, I hadn't scrolled down here yet. Sorry that bad weather is putting off some of you rspring break plans, Hammer...
Glad the kids re becoming self-sufficient with their homework.
And that your son is now okay with the monthly orthodontist visit.
It does sound like your hard work is beginning to pay off.
Nice tooth fairy explanation !
Liked the tooth fairy - I know her and she won't mind the little lie! She really uses them to make surgical support trusses. I have never grown out of screaming fits at doctors and dentists - is that wrong?
My daughter was so excited to go to school to learn how to read. When they didn't teach her the first week she was disgusted and taught herself.
School was a game my kids played. They did what they had to do or wanted to do and got through it. I'm afraid I wasn't a good homework cop. Having to keep on them drove me to distraction so I didn't.
Mother would take me to the library all the time as a kid. They would have kid activities and such. I would check out tons of books and became a verocious reader. She didn't do that with my youngest brother and he had trouble reading and writing in school. To this day a library evokes wonderful exciting feelings for me. Ugh, braces. I wore braces for 4 years and had to also wear a headgear thing that wrapped around my neck. Sucked! But, today i have beautiful teeth and always get compliments so I guess being teased as a kid was worth it. They have the new braces now, don't they? Colored ones, clear ones....
i am new to reading your blog...are you a stay-at-home-dad?
Annie: Things are coming along nicely for once :)
Mutley: I thought she extracted DNA and made slave clones. I didn't want to scare he children though.
Jeannie: sounds like they were well equipped to handle it on their own :)
nomas: My kids love the library too, I need to start taking them to the one down the street. head gear..oh man that's rough. He's got green and purple attachment points. I think it helps that they aren't so massive these days.
Lonnie: I worked out of the home for about 4 years before my son started school. When I adopted my two daughters I sold the business and now devote my time raising them.
Your kids are destined to be entrepeneurs. Maximizing thier profits by not turning in all the teeth.
Now that's priceless.
it's very lovely. You've got clever kids there, Hammer. Good job raising them and teaching them. I love the Tooth Fairy - watch out that your kids don't figure out inflation.
LOL. I love it. She returns them when your 18.
ryan: I wish I had those kind of smarts when I was a kid :)
la cremeiere: thanks, and too late on the inflation, I think we're up to krugerands ;)
carrie: I have to be quick witted or suffer the consequences ;)
I love how explanations (rather, lies I guess!) slip so easily out of a parent's mouth when explaining things like tooth fairies, santa and the easter bunny!! It's GREAT!! It's about the only time, for me, when lying comes naturally!!
Congrats on your hard work paying off!! That is truly a great feeling aye. I think it really comes to the fore when your kids turn around 25 and you see them as an adult - THEN you know you've done a good job!
Nice post :)
Oh, and I've always wondered what you 'did' during the day/for a job - thanks to Lonnie, now I know!! The most important job one can do =)
kb: thank you. The kids believe me over those little a-holes in their school who take such joy in destroying the magic.
"I told them the tooth fairy mails all your teeth back when you turn 18. They seemed ok with that explanation."
And when they find out that this is a lie do you still expect them to believe them to believe the things you tell them?
Just asking.
My mom used to tell me that if I ate the crusts on my sandwiches myhair would get curly. I believed her, I forget how old I was when I realized she was making it up. (Parents don't lie). She told me a lot of other stuff that wasn't true, and I still love her. Personally, I'd have loved to get a vial of my baby teeth when I turned 18.
Good thinking on the tooth fairy! I've told some whopper lies to keep the little kid magic going.
You have so few years before they don't believe in any of those things.. I say stretch it out as long as you can.
Has the tooth fairy ever forgotten to come? Where you have to go in there with the money palmed and say something like.. hmm it must have fallen off the bed. You look on that side and and I'll.... :D
BBc: I'll just act like a politician and keep lying ;)
Janet: thats mean lol. I like messing with my kids heads. I told them I am 8 years old but big for my age ;)
groovy: I forgot once and said that the toothfairy sent me an Email saying she was running late. :)
sounds like that youngest one just may fall under the gifted and talented category... but they all have their strengths, don't they?
Whoo-hoo on the homework paying off!
good job!
i am happy for you and your big family.
3 kids is a lot.
tummies and boo boos
how cute!
That is awesome that things are working out. How old is your son to get braces. I think I need to get Kiddo some, but he's only 10, almost 11. Don't know about the age thing.
Poor Kiddo has a learning problem too. With reading. It's hard on us, cuz we were so good at reading, it's hard to understand. He's still in a 3rd grade reading level in 5th grade. They give him special classes, because he can't understand the math (word problems) and some of the history or composition assignments. One that would take a kid about an hour, would take him weeks, to try and read and write on it.
I'm praying it will click a heck of a lot better with him in the next couple years. I would hate for him to be that far behind.
Infinitsimal" the youngest has complex thought processes and often asks well thought out questions. I'm thinking she will be gifted too. This will be tough on her older sister though :/
Burfica: my son is 10 and in 4th grade. He has ADD but it's under control. The school gave him lots of extra help that paid off.
Good luck with yours. I'm sure he'll come through it.
I developed a new respect for stay at home moms, for example, after I got custody of my daughter.
Shes a handful at tmes also and it's a good thing I'm a stay at home dad as well. Shes a full time job.
Of course you know my situation for the most part Hammer and I am disabled.
I enjoy reading this kind of post. I get a lot of it to be honest.
A lot out of it... :)
well, perhaps the middle child can sing, or draw, or has an artsy side that will make her outstanding.
typically middle kids have a har time as it is.
I just learned in my psych class, that the oldest child usually has the most intellect. (something about the best genetic material) i wonder if those two had the same biological father?
Or, conversely, it's possible that the eldest and middle kids both have dyslexia, a sign of intelligence... i should know, having it myself!
all have their strengths...
You (and you wife)have done a real good job with your children, Hammer.
So good to hear the youngest will give you an easier time.
Maybe she has got a good teacher at the kindergarten?
As an antroposoph,(Waldorf-teacher) I know it is another way to teach children than the usually. The idealogy goes in exact the matter to let the children "discover" the reading-trick themselves.
I worry if what my daughter is doing in Kindergarten is going to be enough for 1st grade. We've had some setbacks this year -- she's missed a good number of days due to illness and snow... What your daughter did with reading words sounds like what I did with music. I had a major block with it and then one day I locked myself in my room for several hours and didn't stop playing until I had mastered 3 octaves for my instrument.
You'll have to post a Tooth Fairy How-To. I'm almost certain I'm going to screw that up. lol
I feel like we must be living parallel lives.
Return of teeth at 18~~ prefect! Welcome to the world of braces kiddo... hopefully you wont have to endure 2 in them at the same time.. and for 10 years lol.. Its amazing I was able to put the 5 of them thru college after that....
Post a Comment
Welcome back
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home