Here’s to Patience and Persistence

Well, I had decided this summer to teach Schnuckie5 to read.  We had a half hearted attempt at it in the spring but I did not like the program (and neither did she).  I then found The Reading Lesson , (Michael Levin, MD Charan Langton, MS). The first few lessons went really well and she was catching on to phonics and seemed to be proud of herself and her accomplishments.  She even began reading Bob books by herself and we tried to make a big deal about it.  We did not do a lesson everyday but instead a few days a week.  I also began asking the boys for a quiet 1/2 of reading to help set the mood.  Ideally this daone with Schnuckie3 napping (Boy oh Boy I hope he will keep napping for another year).

Then, of course, it was bound to happen, the other day she balked at the lessons,and refused to finish. I made some half hearted effort to let her know that there would be consequences to failing to finish, but y’know, life grabbed hold of me and off we went, swimming, and play dates, snacks and TV. Though I should have known better, I let it go for a thinking in the back of my mind, hmmmm this is a mistake, next time it’s going be worse.

Cue this afternoon. When I informed her that she needed to finish the two pages from her last lesson and do her next session with me today, she refused.  “Fine” I told her, “ but don’t come asking for anything until you do what I asked you.  Of course, an hour later when it was time to have a snack and the boys wanted to watch TV she flipped out when she realized that I meant what I had said: no snack, no TV, no nothing, until her lesson was done.  I never yelled or screamed (Does speaking in that teeth clenched, ‘I really really mean it’ voice count?) but I insisted that she do her lesson.  After 5 tantrums and 3 runs to the bedroom in tears,  and countless whines, 2 1/2 hours later we finished our work.  Every time she started to complain, I disengaged and informed her that I would be waiting to help her finish when she was ready.  Every time she came back (crawling at one point), I welcomed her back enthusiastically, and then if she did not respond with at least neutrality, I’d send her off again to “return when she was ready to learn”.  But we did finish we did (finally) and she was able to get on with life and hopefully see that I am serious when I ask her to do work. 

I suspect this was the very first of a long series of battles I will face as we begin (OH MY GOODNESS we are getting close).  I know that they will enjoy things in the beginning but very quickly become disillusioned with the joy that is school work.  So, I hope to follow the model I used today.  No yelling, no screaming, just persistence that the work must be done before the fun.  I can’t wear myself out on one kid and try to scream them into submission.  Instead, I need to help them realize that it is in their best interests to finish the work and all the while keep my sanity (what’s left of it) intact. 

Franklin Hills Sloppy Jake, my sweet sweet boy.

Our 14 1/2 year old Yellow Lab passed away this past weekend. I had to tell the kids while we were up in NJ visiting my mom. They were devastated and it was one of the hardest things I have had to do as a parent as I had to bring them such pain and sadness. Papaschnuck got Jake from a breeder from Scranton PA when he was a mere 8 weeks old. Sweet, sweet Jake was a wonderful boy, really the best. Just dumb enough never to question any command; gentle enough to tolerate all four monkeys at all ages; tolerant enough to handle other dogs and a cat sharing the house, kind enough to patiently wait while everyone in preschool petted him during a party and lovable enough to always have a wet sloppy kiss waiting.

Jake gave us 14 1/2 years of the best and hopefully lived everyday as contentedly as he appeared to. He was truly like a child to me (before I actually had children) and a dog that was both special and rare in a kind of way you don't fully appreciate until they are gone. I will miss his sweet face, his eager tail, and his lovable self. Rest in Peace darling, after all these years, you deserve it.

Blueberries and kiddies

This time of year at the Schnuck Estate, something wondrous happens: the blueberries arrive. We were blessed with a small blueberry thicket off the driveway that we happily discovered 2 months after we moved in in 2001. Dark blue berries began falling off the branches and I wandered over to investigate. Evidently the people who originally owned the house were renown for growing organic stuff (vegetable, cherries, blueberries) and we are happily reaping the benefits of their prior efforts as we do little to nothing to earn this wondrous treat. I neither spray nor protect them from animals and still manage to get plenty to freeze and give away. Occasionally we whack off a branch of two in a vain attempt to pretend we are "managing" the bushes. Yet they continue to come, year after year, providing us with free fruit all year long. In fact we often finish up the last of the frozen berries the week or so before they come in again. (Our blueberry treat of choice is smoothies- put yogurt, frozen blueberries, strawberries, banana and some OJ in a blender, wizz up and serve.)
Anyway, the blueberries are in and they are such a magnificent example of the wisdom of Mother Nature. First of all, the left and and center right bushes start turning blue first. Often giving most of their berries before the rest of the bushes start. (Another interesting thing is different varieties evidently are necessary with cross pollination and such- we must have 2 or 3 slight variations out there) Each bunch has quite a few berries in them and they all turn blue slowly, at different times. You usually see 1-3 ripe berries amid a cluster of hard green berries. So you pick one or two from each bunch, and return for more later. This is perfect as you are not inundated with berries all at once but get the same amount from the bushes each day or so for a few weeks. Nature's way of doling out her treats.

Now, picking berries is my brief therapy most days as I sneak out, away from the madness of the asylum, and pick for 20 minutes or so. During this time I think, and this year I am thinking about children's needs and my ability to manage multiple levels of teaching, multiple kids, all at the same time. So, I began thinking that perhaps something can be learned from the humble blueberry bush. Initially I thought, how nice it would be if the kids were like the blueberries, ripening at their own speed and being ready to be picked all at different times. Me, popping in to pluck them off the shrub, careful not to disturb the one to them. However, I don't really believe this would happen as I know the kids are more like a group of Piranha than blueberries and they tend to circle and swarm in unity. Instead I hope that maybe I will be more like the blueberry bush, and be able to hand out what is needed when it is time. Offer it up and it will be picked off by the kids and consumed. Nice theory, I know, but theories don't always bear out so I have a back up plan: to make them learn and stay on task, I can always bribe them all with blueberry smoothies.

4th of July

Happy Independence Day

This is one of my favorite holidays as there is something really great about a small hometown parade. My oldest (this year, two of them) Cubscouts are always on a float in the parade and seem to have a ball. I usually park myself on the curb and cheer with the other Schnuckies at all the interesting floats. The variety is terrific: from the local Ice Rink, to the Public Works dump Trucks, all the various Miss Maryland (and jr. misses), to Uncle Sam on stilts (Who, I noticed,was actually a woman this year, so auntie Samantha).The firetrucks, and baton twirlers and every local High school (public and private). The usual politicians came through, some receiving more enthusiam than others. (I myself have some issues with our govenor and out representative, but that is another blog). What fun, and even more so watching through the eyes of a child. Small town America.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Happy 4th of July!