The title is slightly misleading since I haven't figured out how to do this myself 100% of the time, only 50%. Leigh was a great model putting on the dress and taking it off when I needed to. But Abby, no way.
I was even prepared for some resistance, so I had candy as a bribe. Some nice, big, blue whale candies. I gave her one right away, and then popped her shirt off. But as soon as I tried to put the dress over her head, well, that was when the cooperation ended.
I then proceeded to pry the candy from her mouth, since the candy was for trying on the dress. She naturally got upset about that so I tried to put the dress on again, all the time explaining why she got the candy and that it was conditional.
Nope, not happening. So I shoved my finger in her mouth, trying to avoid her sharp little teeth, and amazingly enough, I got the entire candy out of her mouth. Not something I really want to do everyday though; saliva, gross.
I gave her a little time-out in her room since she was freaking out. And then we tried again. But still she refused!
This has now turned into a battle of the wills and I am determined to win. But I know from experience (just last night for example) that Abby sticks to her guns pretty strongly. So I'll let you know the winner!
On a completely different matter, does anyone know how to remove the security tags from clothing? I bought Abby a skirt while I was away and they didn't remove the tag and the store is a good two plus hours away. And I live in a small town where I don't think any stores use security tags...
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Preschool is Coming Along
Today Abby was sick. And without any warning. Well, she was cuddly and not wanting to run around and play, she just wanted to lie with me on the couch, but sometimes she's like that. I didn't think anything of it until after she threw up all over the couch, rug, herself, and myself. Poor kid. She couldn't keep anything down today. So we haven't done much except watch movies.
Yes, I let her watch movies all day. Poor mom award, right here. But honestly, I don't think there's anything wrong with a movie day once in awhile. It's not like she's sick every day. Plus I needed something to get her mind off of food because despite being sick, she still wants to eat. But I can't let her. So the movies sufficiently distract her.
We didn't do any kind of "work" today, but I have to toot my own horn and say that we have actually been doing "work" almost every day this week, and even most of last week! By "work" I am meaning preschool activities intended to teach her stuff.
We have been using the Raising Rock Stars Preschool activities from 1+1+1=1, as well as preschool packs from there and Homeschool Creations. We don't do everything but kind of piece things together. I also will just look over the internet for crafty ideas for the letters and such.
We have been working through the alphabet, and are currently on C. Each week there is a verse and song, that we sing every day and Abby really enjoys that. She will even drag me over to the chart so we can go through them. It is encouraging to see her wanting to do this. She will either repeat the words after me for the verse, or try to say them with me. And she will sing the song. Even if she doesn't know it. It's so cute.
After that we usually do some little worksheets or craft or something. There are some tracing ones, and she isn't too keen on staying on the line. I think that she could, but she just likes to follow the gist of where the line is going. The ends justifies the means, kind of thing. But she enjoys this and that's what counts!
Yes, I let her watch movies all day. Poor mom award, right here. But honestly, I don't think there's anything wrong with a movie day once in awhile. It's not like she's sick every day. Plus I needed something to get her mind off of food because despite being sick, she still wants to eat. But I can't let her. So the movies sufficiently distract her.
We didn't do any kind of "work" today, but I have to toot my own horn and say that we have actually been doing "work" almost every day this week, and even most of last week! By "work" I am meaning preschool activities intended to teach her stuff.
We have been using the Raising Rock Stars Preschool activities from 1+1+1=1, as well as preschool packs from there and Homeschool Creations. We don't do everything but kind of piece things together. I also will just look over the internet for crafty ideas for the letters and such.
We have been working through the alphabet, and are currently on C. Each week there is a verse and song, that we sing every day and Abby really enjoys that. She will even drag me over to the chart so we can go through them. It is encouraging to see her wanting to do this. She will either repeat the words after me for the verse, or try to say them with me. And she will sing the song. Even if she doesn't know it. It's so cute.
After that we usually do some little worksheets or craft or something. There are some tracing ones, and she isn't too keen on staying on the line. I think that she could, but she just likes to follow the gist of where the line is going. The ends justifies the means, kind of thing. But she enjoys this and that's what counts!
I was trying to get a picture of her matching pictures and words;
she just wanted to make faces at the camera
Monday, June 13, 2011
Good Morning Girls Book Club - Week 4 (ok, and 2 and 3) Thoughts
I am horribly behind in my reading. I am just starting chapter 4. I don't even want to admit this because I am doing my reading during my quiet time with God. So if I haven't read in a bunch of days, then the obvious conclusion is that I haven't even sat down to read God's Word either. Wow, that's a horrible confession to make for me.
But I can change! Right!
But even though I'm not "caught up" I am still wowed by the chapters I have read. It totally brought tears to my eyes. I probably could have sobbed for quite awhile actually, but I held it in since I was in bed with my hubby and he was watching some TV show (can't remember what now). I didn't want to interrupt, haha. No, he wouldn't care, but I seem to have a disinclination against giving in to crying. Maybe it's a sign that I am trying to be strong and rely on myself and not give into weakness.
Anyways, off-track. Everything she writes about feel like it is hitting me, BAM BAM, right in the heart. Holy Spirit has been convicting me over so much. Especially the encouraging words. I realize that when the girls mess up, I can tend to say some mean, sarcastic things, like "Do you really think that I wanted to spend my afternoon cleaning up the bathroom? Why on earth would you turn on the water under the sink? Do you think this is fun?"
What does that do to my girls? Do they feel stupid, or embarassed? Oh my heart aches when I think of all the idle words that I have spoken without thought. It is so wrong of me to just let my emotions control me.
And the other side, to speak encouragement to them. I need to do that more. I know that I do try to praise them when they do good, such as sharing a toy or treat, or even asking me if I'm ok when I get hurt. but I also want to speak life into them. To observe and acknowledge their strengths, and to help them build on those (with God's help of course) and also to help them take their weaknesses to Him.
I guess what I want is to show them the Father's love and to have them know how much He loves them and for them to love Him back. That's what this mothering thing is about.
This was a little more personal and revealing than I planned. But I shouldn't be ashamed because I know that our Father forgave me and I don't want to put on a front that pretends to have it all together.
But I can change! Right!
But even though I'm not "caught up" I am still wowed by the chapters I have read. It totally brought tears to my eyes. I probably could have sobbed for quite awhile actually, but I held it in since I was in bed with my hubby and he was watching some TV show (can't remember what now). I didn't want to interrupt, haha. No, he wouldn't care, but I seem to have a disinclination against giving in to crying. Maybe it's a sign that I am trying to be strong and rely on myself and not give into weakness.
Anyways, off-track. Everything she writes about feel like it is hitting me, BAM BAM, right in the heart. Holy Spirit has been convicting me over so much. Especially the encouraging words. I realize that when the girls mess up, I can tend to say some mean, sarcastic things, like "Do you really think that I wanted to spend my afternoon cleaning up the bathroom? Why on earth would you turn on the water under the sink? Do you think this is fun?"
What does that do to my girls? Do they feel stupid, or embarassed? Oh my heart aches when I think of all the idle words that I have spoken without thought. It is so wrong of me to just let my emotions control me.
And the other side, to speak encouragement to them. I need to do that more. I know that I do try to praise them when they do good, such as sharing a toy or treat, or even asking me if I'm ok when I get hurt. but I also want to speak life into them. To observe and acknowledge their strengths, and to help them build on those (with God's help of course) and also to help them take their weaknesses to Him.
I guess what I want is to show them the Father's love and to have them know how much He loves them and for them to love Him back. That's what this mothering thing is about.
This was a little more personal and revealing than I planned. But I shouldn't be ashamed because I know that our Father forgave me and I don't want to put on a front that pretends to have it all together.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
On the Road and Nothing Gets Done
Yesterday I went to my ladies' Biblestudy in the morning and ran errands in the afternoon, so i didn't get home until 2. Today I took Abby to the city an hour away for an appointment with a pediatricin, didn't get home until 1:30. Both days, I have found it a huge difficulty to get anything done. Partly from being gone for a fair amount of hours, but mostly from the resulting laziness.
But nobody wants to hear a complainer, especially someone continually complaining about themselves. Instead I will inform everyone of how the doctor appointment went.
We went to the pediatrician on a referral from the hearing specialist. The apointment was to see if we could pinpoint why Abby has speech problems. I was apprehensive about the appointment since I didn't feel a super-great connection with the speech pathologist. The speech pathologist actually made me feel like a huge piece of dog poo. But that's a whole other topic that I don't need to get into since I've come to terms with it (really).
Anyways, blah blah blah, the appointment went fine, and the doctor is pretty positive that Abby does not have autism. Which has been an on and off again fear of mine. I knew that she didn't, deep down, but I still feared that she did. Basically there are no physical reasons that can explain why Abby is delayed. All her other developmental areas are fine. So the doctor says, just start the speech therapy when they call, and that will be the best thing for her.
And despite the fact that I didn't really learn anything new, it felt reassuring to me. Driving home, I felt empowered to do what I needed to do. I could continue to do "preschool" at home with Abby, and send her to an actual preschool in the fall. I could deal with the intimidating speech pathologist and stand my ground about my beliefs. I could even clean and tidy my house...maybe.
But nobody wants to hear a complainer, especially someone continually complaining about themselves. Instead I will inform everyone of how the doctor appointment went.
We went to the pediatrician on a referral from the hearing specialist. The apointment was to see if we could pinpoint why Abby has speech problems. I was apprehensive about the appointment since I didn't feel a super-great connection with the speech pathologist. The speech pathologist actually made me feel like a huge piece of dog poo. But that's a whole other topic that I don't need to get into since I've come to terms with it (really).
Anyways, blah blah blah, the appointment went fine, and the doctor is pretty positive that Abby does not have autism. Which has been an on and off again fear of mine. I knew that she didn't, deep down, but I still feared that she did. Basically there are no physical reasons that can explain why Abby is delayed. All her other developmental areas are fine. So the doctor says, just start the speech therapy when they call, and that will be the best thing for her.
And despite the fact that I didn't really learn anything new, it felt reassuring to me. Driving home, I felt empowered to do what I needed to do. I could continue to do "preschool" at home with Abby, and send her to an actual preschool in the fall. I could deal with the intimidating speech pathologist and stand my ground about my beliefs. I could even clean and tidy my house...maybe.
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