One of the things Anastasia’s teacher and I discussed before the holiday break was her math and how she does not know her times tables.
I decided that everyday she would write her times tables down from 2 to 12 at least once. After a few days while she was grounded I tested her. She didn’t seem to be getting them at all. Even with writing them so many times.
One thing I know, she remembers the stuff she writes down so this just didn’t make sense to me why she was not committing them to memory.
Today I had her do her time tables right next to me at our computer desk. I realized why it wasn’t sinking in.
She was writing a list of the problems, like 2×4= then after the list was done, she was going back and answering them.
This was ensuring she would never associate the question with the answer. So I had her change the way she was doing it and it is now working.
My goal is to have her memorized all the times tables before she goes back to school.
This year was a smaller Christmas with the economy being the way it is, mainly MY economy being the way it is.
I have uploaded most of the pictures I took for some of the presents Anastasia got from my sister and her husband, Santa Claus and me. And her mother sent her a Guitar for Christmas. (This is the first year in 6 years that Anastasia’s mother has been in contact.)
More pictures after the jump:
Anastasia's first Guitar
Opening presents Christmas Day
What is it could it be a monkey
Its a Baby Alive
Look Boys
nother present
ITs a SHIRT
presents
This is a big one
Is it really a Guitar
It IS really a Guitar
more presents
This must be a rabbit
Where does the rabbit go
This is what giving presents are about
the boring part reading the card
more presents
Wow Dance Dance Revolution
Now to play with all the goodies
I have spent the past few days reflecting on what I have been doing, how I have been discipling and how I have been spending each moment.
I decided yesterday Anastasia didn’t need to be grounded any more. Now, don’t get me wrong, she had her grounding easy, I was always coming up with chores (easy) and projects for her to complete. I just started thinking, she is WAY smart, she knows what she is doing and I just need to be on toes to watch her doing it.
So, we had a good night, today has been great so far. I love my little girl, always have, always will, just sometimes are more appreciated. :)
I tried to take a step back today. Listen more and be a father less. Anastasia was on her ‘A’ game today. I love days like these. She is intuitive, responsive and very smart.
I decided to let her off restriction for a little bit and play an online game my entire family plays. Her cousins were on the game and she typically argues with them and they all get mad at each other when playing this game together. So I thought I would let Anastasia play the game with them.
She got on the game and immediately had issues over what she wanted to do. I sit right next to her on our humongous computer desk, so I could see all this unfold.
It was the first time Anastasia used her ’safe’ word. She looked at me and said, “Dada, I need you to be my friend and listen to what happened.” I was excited! I get to be on her level helping her instead of her Dad, and what I say goes.
She told me her dilema, we talked it out, I gave her some options I thought she could use and I needed to keep reminding her, it was her decision, she used the ‘word’ so I will not tell her what to do.
In the end we laughed had a good talk and the night went on pretty much uneventful.
I am thankful for all the great advice. I write so many times about not getting lost in your day and live in every moment. And it is STILL so easy to do that without even noticing.
There are days that Anastasia uses her smarts to get herself into a LOT of trouble, then ther are other days, like today, she is on it.
Today she woke up, we ate breakfast and I had Anastasia start her chores. I added a few things today that would make her think and keep her busy for a while.
She is using her head and making this day a great day.
Each night before Anastasia goes to sleep we talk a few minutes about whatever. Since she has been grounded we have talked about her lying, school work and her attitude. Last night I explained to her how much I disliked putting her on the wall and her being grounded in general.
She is on Christmas break, we should be goofing off all day and go on day trips to different places. Instead, she is grounded. Let me tell you. Grounding her I think is worse on me. I’m a kid at heart. Her and I play video games and goof off all the time. And that was the topic of the conversation last night.
It seems like the conversation sunk in because we are having a good day so far.
I just hope it stays this way, because secretly I want her off punishment by the end of the week.
