PERFECTIONIST (5 YRS OLD)

S is showing all the signs of being a perfectionist. She has given up on dance because it was too hard for her.

Now, she is frustrated with playing the piano. Momma doesn't want her to give up on this too. The key is practice, practice, and practice which is hard to enforce on five year old. Momma understands the best way to get a 5 year old to practice is to sit right next to her while she practices, but momma always finds herself running around cleaning up or tidying up that sitting down next to S while she practices is not often practical for her.

STRIPEY UPDATE (5 YRS OLD)

S continues to take her job has pet owner serious. Domesticating Stripey has been a bigger job than momma, daddy or S realized, but one that S takes seriously. Every morning and every evening, momma (or daddy) and S play with Stripey. Momma explained that dwarf hamsters are social creature and need company, i.e. talking to to and petting. S also continues to change out Stripey's food daily. S loves feeding him treats: cheese, eggs, nuts, fruit and vegetables.

For the first couple of weeks, he nipped momma, daddy and S. Now, his nipping has subsided and often comes inquisitively to their hands. The person who handles Stripey best is daddy. S is still hesitant to hold Stripey because he's nipped her more often, probably because she handles him roughly (partly out of her enthusiasm).

Momma thinks getting S a pet has been a great decision. Last week, S said to momma, "Thank you for getting me Stripey" and today S said, "Our family is made up of daddy, momma, Sarah and Stripey."

KARATE (5 YRS OLD)

S has enjoyed Karate over the last several months. She has three black stripes and two yellow stripes on her belt and will test for her yellow belt on August 5. S has really enjoyed the class. Momma sees that learning karate has helped increased her confidence, both internally and externally. She has more external confidence because she knows she can (sorta) protect herself. She believes she is "strong." Internally, she has more confidence because she's been able to demonstrate positively her skills when called upon.

Believing that she is following daddy's footsteps has also encouraged her. She often talks about daddy's black belt and being a black belt like daddy. More than that, karate is something she and daddy can bond together with.

P.S. S has decided to stop dance this summer (and perhaps indefinitely). Some of it had to do with missing so many dance class in April and all of May, making her fall behind the other dancers in her class. Despite some parts of the class being fun, the skill level was getting harder and she was having a hard time with it and found it discouraging. Momma couldn't get her to practice outside of class. Momma's a little disappointed but on the other side, it is one less thing for S (and momma) to do. S just wants to have fun dancing and momma thinks that's the important part. Maybe, some day she'll pick it up again, but now there' still plenty on her plate: karate, piano, and gymnastics.

LOOSE TOOTH (5 YRS OLD)

Today momma said, "I think S has a loose tooth." "What?," asked daddy. "She's been carrying her tooth pillow around all afternoon" momma continued. Daddy just stared and responded, "I'm not ready for her to have a loose tooth!"

PUN (5 YRS OLD)

While eating Mac&Cheese at Pappadeux, S spilled some on herself. Instead of saying, "Geez Louise," S said, "Cheese Louise." S is daddy's girl afterall.