Like today.
Work. It's the four-letter word of childhood. Especially when that powerful little word is preceeded by another one: School.
SCHOOL WORK.Usually Charis is really good about diving into her school work with a good attitude. She loves learning and reading and creating.
But here recently, as I've started to challenge her mind with more creative writing, she has started to challenge my patience by balking at assignments.
Outright saying "No." when I ask her to do something.
Um, excuse me?! But I wasn't aware that this whole school thing came with an Optional Button. Pardon me while I
Only she didn't, continuing to refuse to do what small thing I was asking of her.
For the record, it was write ONE paragraph about the movie Bambi. I've been really exhausted recently. So after finishing up Math for the morning, I let them watch that movie while the little girls napped and I did...nothing. Well, outside of growing a baby in my belly.
Her response? saying she didn't know enough about Bambi...didn't know what to write...had NOT *tearing up* watched it *voice breaking* a dozen times before. *crying*
This is where you insert crocodile tears and a sketchy attitude . And me inwardly counting to ten.
So I sent her to her room for a while, until she was ready to come down and do what was asked of her. and to allow me some space before I acted in a way I might regret.
Ironically, I had secretly made brownies while they were watching the movie (before the Paragraph Drama ensued).
Around the same time Selah discovered their chocolatey presence cooking in the oven, Charis had come down proclaiming herself ready to work. Both girls were cheering over the fact that they were getting such the fun, sweet surprise.
I hadn't planned to do this.... In fact, I don't think, given time to really process, that I would have chosen this route. But out of my mouth came,
"Charis, I'm glad you're ready to do your school. You will still have to do the work, but you won't be getting any dessert tonight. Bad choices come with hard consequences. So your consequence for refusing to work will be not having dessert with the rest of us. I'm sorry."
Oh, the sobs. and the excuses. and the sobs.
And I hated e.v.e.r.y minute of following through. I made those brownies FOR HER and her sisters. I WANTED to let her have some. But I knew she had to learn an important lesson...
one that wasn't going to be gotten from just excusing herself to her room until SHE deemed herself ready to do what she was told.
But as hard as it was (for me), I think I've found a really effective method of punishment for the older girls, as I'm always having to evolve my methods to match their age. From now on, I think the taking away of privileges for Selah (5) and Charis (almost 7) will be top on my list.
And whatdaya know? since the brownie incident they've both have amazzzzing attitudes when it comes to work. Shocking.
Now, to figure out something other than brownies. I don't think their constant presence in my house would benefit MY discipline ...or lack thereof, when it comes to eating chocolate. ;)
