MY LITTLE HELPER (4 3/4 YRS OLD)

S has really taken to helping momma clean the house. A couple of weeks ago she wiped the mirror in the bathroom (and momma wiped the fingerprints she left afterwards) and today she clean the kitchen bay windows. To better help her this time, momma got her a spray bottle of club soda, because her concoction of hand soap and water wasn't as effective. Plus, momma thinks you can't go wrong cleaning glass with club soda...

Daddy Little Girl (4 3/4 YRS)

Since daddy had the zebra flu, momma had to take S to Munchkin Karate on Wednesday. Daddy gave momma explicit direction to remember everything so he could go over the new lesson with her. (no pressure!)

Luckily momma just used her phone to record sensei teaching S how to incorporate high block, reverse punch and kick.

Momma noticed daddy drills S every time he sees her. It makes momma laugh but she also knows daddy really enjoys sharing karate with her. It shows!

RELEVATIONS (4 3/4 YRS OLD)

Being almost five years old, S has put together 2+2 and gotten some strange answers.

-- Watching Dora Dora video in the car, driving home from Mansfield, S tells daddy and momma that Dora's parents let Dora go on adventures without them.

-- Earlier in the week, S tells daddy and momma two of her butterflies were married, since they were stuck together. "Yes," responded momma.

BEST WEEKEND EVER (4 3/4 YRS OLD)

TWENTY-FIVE CENTS (4 3/4 YRS OLD)

S cracked a confetti egg on momma's head and she had to vacuum the spot on the carpet. S did such a great job that momma offered to pay S twenty five cents to vacuum the kitchen. S moved out all the rugs and chairs to the living room to vacuum and she proceeded to do an excellent job vacuuming the kitchen.

Momma asked how S wanted to be paid (laying out the coins in piles): 1 quarter, 2 dimes and 1 nickle, 5 nickles or 25 pennies. Momma explained the difference in coins and said that each pile was the same amount. S was surprised and delighted to learn it was all twenty five cents.

Despite this explanation, S chose the 25 pennies because it was more and heavier than the other piles. Momma wonders if this is because she wants some M&M from the candy slot machine.

SWIM LESSONS (4 3/4 YRS OLD)

Momma tried teaching her first swim lesson to S today after school. Before the experience, momma thought it was going to be easier, than it actually turned out. Previously, momma had a hand in S's swimming lesson, reforcing the instructions or playing games that would help with her swimming skills over the summer. But, this time it was her first lesson where S had to pay attention to momma, as instructor.

Momma found that S had lots of enthusiasm, but it was hard for her to pay attention and watch first before doing it. Momma would say, "you need to lay your body flat like a pancake. Watch me" and S would have already jumped into the water. With the city lessons, S would sit and wait for other kids turn first, so she had plenty of watch and wait time. It's very different one-on-one.

S did a great job with putting her head underwater and looking for momma's lost goggles (the only thing momma had with her that would sink). She enjoyed playing "underwater tea party" which forces her again to submerge her body and head under water.

When learning to kick, S struggled with keeping her legs straight. It's a difficult skill to learn. Momma thinks in previous swimming classes, the instructor had a hard time focusing on this since there were so many kids. When trying to kick with the kick-board with straight legs, S really struggled, but momma noticed that swimming in the (under) water, S does this more naturally and her arms naturally does the breast stroke, not free style. Momma thinks using a swim noodle will be better than a kick board for S. It gives more support to her lower body, which a kick board does not.

S also struggled to float. Momma knows that S knows how to do this, but when asked to do it for an extended time, her feet and body starts to straighten out. Floating is one of the skills momma insists on, since it is a life saving technique.

Momma had to put S in time-out once because she kept jumping on momma back (without any warning) when momma was swimming. Luckily, that didn't cause momma any harm, but she doesn't want S to do this with other kids, especially kids that aren't experienced swimmer.

Overall it was a good experience for both parties. Momma enjoyed sharing the learning experience with S. She realizes that S does better with positive constructive praise and with "games." Luckily S was in a good mood and took momma's criticism well and enjoyed swimming together.

KARATE (4 3/4 YRS)

S tried out the Munchkin karate class today. Daddy came with her. S was hesitant at first; she sat on the sidelines with daddy. Occassionally, daddy would ask if she wanted to try it out. Finally, she said "yes" and S and daddy were both pleased at how well S did and how much she enjoyed it.

Momma's happy to see S sharing something that daddy enjoys. Daddy hopes karate will give S the self-confidence she needs. Momma is concerned that S's time is overscheduled between pre-school, Little Gym, dance class, Muchkin karate and (coming soon) piano lesson. Aahh! To be so priveledge!

P.S. Later daddy told momma that he felt so so proud of S for participating and doing the moves correctly. Ever since, he's been randomly quizzing her on the different karate stances.

FAVORITE FOODS (4 3/4 YRS)

S's favorite foods are: ice cream, especially ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, shakes (basically ice cream again), skittles, lollipops, watermellon, cantelupe, mac and cheese, spaghetti, ravoili, Campbell's chicken noodle soup, shrimp dumplings, and buttered pasta. There are also other stuff that she eats on a regular basis, like broccoli and (almost any type of) meats, but momma's not sure if this is something S would list herself.

BB BALLS (4 3/4 YRS OLD)

Momma and S stopped by Garrison park to kill some time after school today. S found five bb balls -- four orange ones and one green. Just walking about looking for "treasure" was fun. Momma showed S what a three-leaf clover is. They both picked up some trash around the park and went to look at the empty pool. Being with each other was pleasant.

P.S. S has become a collector. At Starbright, she often goes on treasure hunt with her friends for hidden jewels that Mr. Richard hides. Now-a-days, along with the hidden jewels, she picks up small rocks and crystals, an occassional flower, and a random piece of twig.

LONELY (4 3/4 YRS OLD)

The hardest thing for momma to hear is when S says her heart (or feeling) hurts or she's lonely. Momma's own heart goes out to her and wishes that there was something she could do. Part of the problem for momma is that momma empathizes with S and remembers her own difficulties in making friends. But, momma can only make suggestions and S still has to figure out how to do it herself.

Today, at school, two boys wouldn't let S play on their playscape because it was their pirate ship. They told her to get off and pushed her off. Momma asked if the push hurt her and her response was "it hurt my feelings." Momma asked what she could do about it and she said, she looked for another person to play with. She found Lucy and they both painted the plants with some water and paint brushes. (Despite finding someone else to play with, S is still heartbroken).

Later this evening, S struggled to figure out how to play with Gwenny, Talia, and Ella. After the movie, she sat in the car and sobbed for a little bit, saying she was lonely. Her two dearest friends Talia and Ella didn't want to play with her and were vying for Gwenny's attention. S was left out and couldn't figure out how to be included. When momma asked what she could do; S said, she just ignored Gwenny (the cause of her misfortune). Momma suggested the opposite. That next time, she should ask to join in.

Poor S! Her heart is too fragile. Figuring out how to interact and to make friends is not one of momma strong traits and wishes that daddy could help. But, honestly, daddy probably feels as helpless (if not more so) than momma. S will have to figure this out by herself.