First, I’d like to brag about Matt. I think I’ve talked before about my stress with this kid. Nothing we were doing was working to get it through his head that school was important. He just had no interest. We tried everything we could think of to get this kid to take school seriously. (Now before anyone asks, no. There are no learning disabilities or other issues aside from his ADD.) Our last resort was to take everything out of his room except his bed and dresser, and even that didn’t work.
I finally had this flash of genius, pure genius. Matthew is my child, and there are things he comes by honestly. One of those things is a need for immediate consequences, good or bad. (We’re just not great with long-term thinking sometimes.) So, instead of stripping his room down from quarter to quarter, we decide on a daily basis whether or not he gets to keep his stuff. If he has his homework done, he gets his stuff for that night. If not, so sorry, dude, but no fun for you tonight. And it WORKED, for the love of Mike.
His grades in his core classes have all shown marked improvement. (He went up 15% in his math class!!) His teachers even sent home a note praising his progress, saying he’s really turned it around, etc. They also told us they’d made an exception for him so that he could attend today’s field trip to see National Treasure 2. (The rule was if a kid didn’t pass all their core classes for the semester, they couldn’t go. Matt passed for this quarter, but not the semester. However, his progress was so good, they felt he had earned the privilege.) Hopefully, Matt will finally “get” that working hard in school is worth it. :knocks on wood:
Next up, Miss Lenna. She hasn’t ever given us a speck of trouble in the grades department, and the kid busts her tail in school. (It’s that competitive nature of hers.) Last week, there was an awards ceremony, and Lenna got the Principal’s Award! I’m so stinking proud of her, I can hardly stand it. The Principal’s Award isn’t about grades alone, it’s also about a kid’s general attitude and behavior. While I’m proud of Lenna’s scholastic achievements, I’m more proud that she is conducting herself in an exemplary fashion at school. I’m also glad that the wombat didn’t hold her back any.
Last but not least (except in size), Miss Tricia. Miss T has cut two bottom teeth and is working on cutting two top ones. (What is with this kid getting them in pairs?!) She is also learning (and saying) new words every day, although they all sound suspiciously like “dada.” I think Bill has bribed her with Cheetos puffcorn. We’re anxiously awaiting her realization that she doesn’t have to hang on to things to stand up, and my friends, I think it’s going to happen much sooner than I want. She doesn’t seem to understand, though, that Momm-ay would like her to remain an infant for a while. Tricia seems insistent on becoming a toddler. The little rat.
I’m so proud of these kids, I don’t have words for it. Honestly, there are times I look at them and the people they’re becoming, and I’m truly amazed at how lucky I am to have been blessed with the honor of helping them along their way. Now, remind me of this later when I’m bitching about them fighting and whining and nagging, would you?
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10 responses so far ↓
1 Robin // Jan 28, 2008 at 2:57 pm
:*)
2 d // Jan 28, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Yay for all your kids! You’re having a proud parent day, and well you should! I’m glad that it’s finally sinking in for Matt. It’s all about testing out techniques. What works for one, doesn’t work for all and youve’ binally hit on it!
And Yay for Lenna, not only being such a superstar in school, but having a great attitude too!
And though I am unhappy that miss Tricia insists on growing up, I can still give her kudos for not only cutting two teeth at once, but for being at the jumping off point of walking. Multitalented that one.
Steph, you consistently try to not only better yourself, but better your children as well and I give you praise for working so dang hard at it. Seriously.
You are rockstar!
3 Steph // Jan 28, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Aww. Thanks. :)
4 Steph // Jan 28, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Thanks, d. I really dig my kids, and I really like being a mom. I’m glad I’m not screwing things up too huge. LOL.
5 Becky // Jan 28, 2008 at 8:44 pm
That is awesome about Matt! He is a great kid!!! And of course Lenna is just like I was when
I was a kid. Oh that girl is in for a good things. :)
I can’t believe Tricia has teeth.. You need to put pictures up as soon as you can see them.
Good stuff for the scrapbook!!!
6 Missy // Jan 28, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Hooray dude! I’m so proud of them and you! Its so awesome that Matt is finally starting to make the turn and that Lenna is such a rockstar. Tricia is growing up fast too dude!
7 Steph // Jan 28, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Oh, Rebecca. This girl…woo. Bill tells me all the time that Lenna is just. like. you. Sometimes, that makes him crazy. I’m always THRILLED about it - I would LOVE it if Lenna turned out like you.
She has two of ‘em! You can just barely see them poking through her little gums, but they’re in there. I’m going to try to get them tomorrow when I film this week’s WwT. Oh, and she’s clapping now. (I can’t remember if I caught that on video last time.) It’s like she all of a sudden realized she’s not a BABY anymore. It’s sad.
8 Steph // Jan 28, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Thank you! :) I’m so proud of these little rats, I can’t stand it. :)
9 Noel // Jan 29, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Oh yay! Congrats to them all. Put a book on Tricia’s head, wouldja? Kid is growing way too fast.
10 Steph // Jan 29, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Noel, it’s killing me. She stood alone a couple of times today. Just for a second or two, but still. WAAAHHHH!!