Today was the last day of T-ball for Andrew and Jonny. We all went to see their last game and then came home and had an all day Otter-pop and swim fest. It was so refreshing---- even I ate five or six and went swimming with all the kids. Dennis joined me and had a blast. John and I are set on teaching him to swim this summer, and he is off to a great start. He let me take him all over the pool and jumped in to me from the side. Each time, I took him under water for a brief second and he came up smiling, squealing for more. Later, John taught him how to hold a noodle and kick his feet to move around. After we were done swimming, I walked Dennis up the stairs to get him ready for bed as he cuddled in my arms with extra closeness. We had skin on skin contact (I was in a bathing suit) just like in the swimming pool and it was interesting how he noticed it and rubbed my back. Just when I didn't think we could bond any closer, I was overcome with an even greater love for Dennis. I honestly feel like I gave birth to this child. Praise the Lord.
I tucked Dennis into the bottom bunk------- tonight will be the third day in a row that he has slept in his big boy bed through the night--- the whole night.
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The other evening, as we were in line at the checkout at Target, I saw something in one of my children's pocket that didn't belong to them. Yes, my child was trying to shoplift........... yes, this was one of my parenting lows. The clerk did not see it, but I had them call the security guard. Let me just say---- we had a nice long talk. What is odd about this is that they were buying the same exact thing with money that they had------ but that wasn't enough. Oh, how this brought back memories.
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My kids have a pretty amazing system between all of them-- which I just really noticed tonight. Rachel didn't want her donut for dessert, but Caleb did. But.... Rachel wanted Adam's bag of candy from a party that he attended last night and told Caleb to work it out with Adam so that Caleb would get her donut and she would get the candy. So Rachel gave Caleb her donut, Caleb gave Adam one dollar, and Adam gave Rachel his bag of candy. In the end--- the three of them got what they wanted.
And to think---- this is going on all the time between the kids. In fact, Adam just paid Rachel two bucks to cut up some meat for him.
14 inspiring thoughts:
I love the story about Rachel, Adam, and Caleb bartering with each other for what they wanted. It reminded me of the time in high school when I was at my school's craft fair. I was selling beaded necklaces and had no money. My ceramics teacher, Jon, was selling a ceramics sculpture that I wanted to buy, but I had no money. He wasn't interested in a necklace, but he wanted to buy some mushroom-shaped mushrooms. I worked it out so that I gave a necklace to a girl who was selling ceramic bowls, who gave me a bowl in return. I traded the bowl for 2 bags of meringues, then traded the meringues for the sculpture. Everyone was happy!
Could you teach me to swim?
I'm 3*cough* but have never learned. And i live on an island!
When i was six, i was pushed into a public pool. I hit my face on the edge, lost three teeth, split my chin and cheek open, fractured my cheekbone and passed out from the amount of water i breathed in. The lifeguard saved my life that day!
I was terrified for years as a kid... And, as an adult, ive never found a teacher who respects or understands my phobia.
Oh! And the kid that pushed me in? He and i became best friends...and still are.
Suzanne--who cant seem to log into blogger!
There's never a dull moment with kids. One of mine shop lifted once (she was only 4 at the time) and I made her take it back, hand it in and explain what she had done herself. I looked on from a distance.
I was proud of the way she handled it for a little kid and I never again had a moment's worry about her honesty.
Dennis has come so far, and is so giving in spite of all he has been through. I guess that goes for all of your adoptees really. An occasional backward step is not a failure, just another learning opportunity.
It's a world of high finance in the Reed house:)
Your kids are crafty, with the bartering system!
Hopefully the attemted shoplifter learned a lesson. I remember doing things as a kid without thinking about what I was doing would be called, like when I would tell a lie to my parents without even thinking about it, a friend would call me out on it, say I was lying, or being decietful, and until she said it, I didn't really realizes that is what I was doing. Sometimes I find myself doing that even as a young adult. I will have an attitude and sudden God taps me on the shoulder and says "you know Violet, that attitude you have, you are coveting your neighbor". I realize (of course) God is right but, I didn't think about it as being such a moment ago! Growing up is hard!
I teach kids Dennis' age to swim (actually I teach ages 6 months up to 12 years and adult private lessons)! It is SO much fun. My 20 month old nephew can float on his back (while crying because he doesn't like it!) and is learning a few other tricks as well, and I don't even take him swimming very often! I so love teaching swimming lessons.
So glad you are a mom of character and want to instill that in your children even when it is very uncomfortable. I would like to think that I would have done exactly what you did!
Two bucks for cutting the meat, I will be right over to earn some extra cash!!! WOW! He must really not like cutting his own meat.
my siblings and I often bargain for things, usually candy or gum, but it's never quite that complex! :)
Aren't kids just amazing. Congrats to Dennis being in a big boy bed for three night now thru the night. That's a huge milestone. Glad to see the bonding of Dennis has gone so well and has been so amazing. Although I must say I expected that with you as his Mother. Your heart is so full of love and compassion :)
I downloaded a bunch of pics from the t-ball game and from Anna, Will and Andrew's track meet to your computer. It's on the desktop.
What dear stories...
♥ I love the way they're making their deals... Everyone's happy when all is said and done! :)
The shoplifting thing is tricky. I used to be a cronic shoplifter as a kid and could never figure out why I was doing it. Even now I don't know why I did. I really hope you guys figure it all out and I'm sure you will think of the right way to handle it.
How nice to be able to exchange up with eachother. It sounds like the school cafeteria!
Suzanne, If you are in southern oregon I know an awesome teacher who has a class specifically for adults with a swimming phobia.
Love the bartering story. :)
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