Double the Trouble

Oh, these two! I tell you what they won’t try to get away with when my back is turned. You know how you tell them and tell them and tell them not to, oh let’s say, stand on the back of the futon? And then they do it anyway? And you catch them because they aren’t the smartest about when they do it?

BUSTED.

I have to tell you the oldest offender tends to catch the most flack from me. They know better, they truly do. Not only that but they are leading by example. And with leadership comes, you got it, followers. How to teach a child that their actions don’t only affect them but those around them for the better or the worse?

Anyhow, Isaiah and Katie were caught being naughty, for like the umpteenth time, standing on and jumping off the back of the futon, the very nice, very wooden futon. So Isaiah gets sent into the kitchen to keep one of our corners company. They get lonely you know, those corners do.

As Isaiah is sitting there his little sister comes looking for him. “Where’s ‘Saiah?”

“He’s in the corner.”

She immediately sits down by him. “I want to be by ‘Saiah.”

Double the trouble and double the punishment, I guess. Don’t they look thoroughly chastised? Like they’ll never do it again? : ) Where have I gone wrong?

A Declaration

I am not a huge football fan. Watching the super bowl? Not high on my list. My husband on the other was a little too into this years game because his beloved Packers were in it. : ) It is thankful I am that they won. (I left the house a little after half-time. I won't make privy the things he was saying to the T.V. prior to my departure. My only prayer was that he wouldn't wake the children in his agitation/excitement.)

Anyhow, why the chat about the super bowl when I am not in the slightest bit a football fan? I was thankful and surprised to hear the Declaration of Independence being read just prior to the action by different NFL players.



This year we have begun our 2 part study of the history of the United States. We are on the Revolutionary War, thus my interest and appreciation in the reading of the Declaration of Independence. : ) In addition to the history section of our curriculum we have books that Kiersten reads on her own (I do too, before she does.) as well as read-alouds. It has been so neat to have the books we are reading tie in right with where we are in history. Currently we are finishing up Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes.

I have to tell you I have a whole new appreciation for what our forefathers went through and did just so that I could live in a free and democratic society. I honestly don't remember learning much of this in my own school days, which is neither here nor there, but am doubly thankful I am learning it now.

Continuing my much slacking list of thanks : )

# 125 - 134

 - living in a free & democratic nation

- those dear men & women who have served in the military and given so much from 1776 to today

- a rich national history

- a school curriculum that works hard to bring out the most in what we are studying

- the Declaration of Independence

- the Star Spangled Banner

- Adventures in Odyssey telling Kiersten the story of how the Star Spangled Banner came to  be written

- a country that was founded on a belief in the One, True God

-relearning a history I had long ago forgotten and thus greatly under appreciated

- my Mom is home safe (for good)  after having served to support our troops over seas in  a warring area for 6 1/2 years

Thievery

I didn’t think that was what I was doing. It isn’t something I meant to do intentionally in my parenting, but apparently I am raising a pack of thieves. Alright, that is a slight exaggeration. Four is a pack. A steady group of two children, with an occasional third thrown in cannot really be classified as a pack.

What pray tell has been stolen? And who are the culprits?

My sleep, it is my sleep that has been stolen. It seems over the last month or so two children in particular are out to steal, kill and destroy any opportunity I might have for a full night’s uninterrupted sleep. It is uncanny I tell you. If I were the suspicious type I would swear there is some sort of conspiracy going on among the children. Perhaps even a coup (to overthrow this parenthood thing). The only problem is the two children mainly involved are the youngest and I am not sure how much communication can be going back and forth between them seeing as Zeke doesn’t speak!

All I can say is their master plan to break me down little by little is working.

Katie and Ezekiel are running me roughshod through the middle of most nights. The uncanny part I mentioned? They never do it on the same night. There is some understanding between them over whose turn it is and each has followed the rules. There is no sharing or too many sequential nights of the same offender. You know, so they’ll still reap the benefit of a full nights sleep themselves every now and again.

What is going on with them? I wish I knew so I could make it stop. Katie wakes up in the middle of the night and comes down to our bed. What wakes her up? No idea. Getting her back to sleep without some production and serious noise (from protesting) is almost an art form. It usually requires that I slip into her bed and remain there until she is asleep or until I hear some grumbling from Zeke. Can I just state for the record she is a fiddle faddler, a real squiggle worm? Some nights she has even lain awake playing, because why isn’t 3-4am a good time to play? And those nights? Oh, how I could cry, scream, have me a good ‘ol tantrum throwing session.

Zeke’s issue – gas pains? I can only fathom because it isn’t a hunger issue. I am not feeding him at any point in the night if he cries out. I am mainly there pounding on his little hinder (instead of rubbing his back) until he gets comfortable enough to fall asleep. Every now and again a little ‘stinky’ escapes and he relaxes. These little sessions can last a few moments to an hour or so and are frequent. It is rarely just one trip I make up those stairs, but rather one every hour or so.

I have to tell you my behavior mirrors theirs when they have little sleep. I am cranky, prone to fits and just down right disagreeable! Dear me, I know it will pass, I do. But knowing doesn’t make the walking it any easier or my disposition any more pleasant. I am working on it, definitely working on it.

Why is it the young run as fast as they can away from sleep and as you get older (or become a parent) you want to run towards it? Those little people don’t know how good they have it.

picture source