Monday, October 28, 2013

- October 28, 2013

Wow! Parenting is hard! Okay, I know that is a well known fact, but it seems the older my kids get the harder it gets. I also know that many of my seasoned parents will only tell me it only gets harder, but I guess I already know that too. The kids are at this age that they fight all the time! They could all be sitting down watching TV and I walk out of the room and they are yelling and fighting as soon as I leave. The other night I left the dining room table to clean up the kitchen and I hear, "Fight, Fight, Fight!" coming from the dining room. I just let it play out and did not even go back on the room to see why and who was fighting. It really is frustrating and I am praying that they learn to get along (SIGH).

We are also trying to figure out that fine line of what they used to "get away with" and what is expected of them now that they are older. I know I am to blame for some of Samuel's problems. I know I do too much for him and need to start making him take on more responsibilities. I also am concerned I am making him too soft. There really is a fine line between having your kids stand up for themselves and when to just blow off rude comments. I guess today at gym a kid made a comment about Sam being the worst soccer player in class because he missed a goal. I asked him if other kids missed a goal and of course the answer was yes. I asked if the kid is rude to other kids and of course the answer was yes. I am really trying to be better about helping him not take every thing so personal. He will have to deal with rude people all of his life so he needs to start learning how to ignore rude comments. A few years ago Emma started doing this thing when she would do something wrong she would say "oopsie" and smile. Well it was cute a few years ago, but now not so cute. She just does whatever she wants to do at that moment and then try to charm her way out of getting in trouble. The other night she came running in the dining room and grabbed a bunch of napkins and headed back to the kitchen. Of course I followed her and when I got to the kitchen she had spilled salsa all over the counter. When asked what she was doing her response, " I wanted some chips and salsa." Well, I see that, but you didn't think to ask if you could have some. This has also happened with chocolate milk, ranch and carrots, and other things. She has just taken on this "I am going to do what I want to do" attitude and it is not an attitude and behavior we are liking too much. Now Chloe, oh dear Chloe, her behavior at school has improved so much this year, but her behavior at home is still trying on us most days. Our biggest concern for Chloe is her ability to lie to us over and over again without batting an eye. Saturday night she was in the bathroom and she turned and looked at me and her mouth and tongue were completely blue from something. "Chloe, what did you eat?" Chloe, "Nothing!" Me, "Chloe, what did you put in your mouth? It is blue!" Chloe," Nothing! I didn't put anything in my mouth!" Me, "Chloe, look in the mirror. Your mouth and tongue are blue!" The child looks in the mirror and still denies that she put something in her mouth. I walk into the kitchen to try and figure out what she put in her mouth. On the counter were three MiO bottles ( water enhancing liquid) and the blueberry lemonade bottle was open. She had squirted the blue liquid in her mouth and it had stained her lips and tongue. It tasted nasty so I am hoping she will not do that again. These little adventures happen almost daily with her and we are praying that she will start to see the importance of telling the truth!
Yesterday we went to church and then came home and had lunch. I made cheese stuffed jumbo shells covered with spaghetti sauce and the kids LOVED it! It was super easy and it was nice to switch up our menu :) After lunch Jeremy and the girls took a nap and Samuel and I took a walk. Sam and I are doing an 2.5 miler race this coming weekend so we needed to walk. When they woke up we took Lucy on a walk to the near by high school where they have an enclosed old tennis court that people bring their dogs to to run for a while. I guess Lucy has never been in a fenced area before, because we let her loose and she ran at full force and bounced right off the side of the fence. She wasn't hurt, but it was pretty funny. She ran and the kids threw a football around. Today was a typical Monday and we are looking forward to another three day weekend coming up. The kids and I do not have school on Friday and we are looking forward to it!