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Mon, Nov 24, 2008 10:40 AM
As you all know, Katie frequently voices her disapproval of my big butt and messy office. But I finally found something of mine that she actually wants to emulate: hair length.

For weeks, she had been asking to get her hair cut "djort, like Mommy's." On Saturday after dance class, we finally did it. It looks great. It's easier to shampoo. It's easier to comb. Even Steve--who loved her super-long hair--admits it was a good move. (You can see the 'do in the two photos I just posted of Katie and her doll in matching dresses.)

* * *

I also just posted a video of Katie dancing to "Jingle Bell Rock." They learned ONE VERSE of lyrics and choreography at dancing class on Saturday morning. She doesn't even quite have THAT down, but she sure enjoyed singing and dancing!

Comments:
Sarah: Cute 'do! She's looking so grown up.

KYGran: Sure hope Katie Bug will give us a performance at Thanksgiving!

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Thu, Nov 20, 2008 12:00 PM
As Katie keeps getting older, discipline has become more important--and, frankly, more interesting.

Whenever possible, I let her experience the natural (and usually negative) consequence of misbehavior. The other day at BJ's, for instance, she was riding in the front-end "car." Even though I warned her repeatedly not to get out until I had stopped, she did. Since I don't walk slowly--even when pushing a massive cart--she fell pretty hard on the concrete floor.

Other times, when I get a "report" from her teachers, I can't really do any "in-the-moment" consequences. So I spend our four-minute car ride doing a serious talk. She definitely has a conscience (thank goodness) because she will listen, burst into tears, and sincerely apologize. I don't usually get the same report twice.

Of course, as any parent might surmise, part of that is simply because there seems to be a neverending list of possible misbehaviors. I mean, Steve and I didn't exactly think to say, "Katie, don't insert leaves and twigs into your nostrils on the playground" or "Katie, it's not a good idea to wet yourself on purpose just so you can go inside and change clothes" or, most recently, "Katie, it's wonderful to be creative, but a 'clap your 'gina' verse on 'If You're Happy and You Know It' just isn't appropriate."

Another challenge is that, much the same way I did as a child, she firmly believes that rules apply to EVERYONE. For Katie, there's no gray area. So when a young boy almost rammed our cart at Wegmans, and his mother said, "Oh my God--did he hit you?", Katie's reaction was to gasp and say--loudly enough for all to hear--"Mommy! Mommy! DJEE DAID, 'OH MY GOD'!" It was mortifying.

Similarly, Katie has also been known to threaten Steve with timeout when he raises his voice (even slightly!) at the dinner table. Lucky for us, she also gives us treats from the "brize box" and stickers for good behavior ("Good job at dinner, Daddy," she'll say, as she slaps one on his chest).

All in all, she seems to "get" things and to be generally well behaved. One thing's for sure, though: She is never boring.

Comments:
Katie H.: Matt and I are laughing so hard that I am actually crying.

Marbara: It is hard to discipline when you are trying not to laugh! These are hysterical, Susan!

Alisa: Katie, I don't think my Nana would know what to do if you added the "clap your 'gina" verse to "If You're Happy and You Know It." LOL

Sarah: Megan and I are in stitches over "clap your 'gina."

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Wed, Nov 19, 2008 2:30 PM
In the last month, Katie has developed an elaborate fantasy world in which she is the mother of six: MoMo, Beary Bear, Killer Whale (a Shamu doll from SeaWorld), and Dolphin (another SeaWorld souvenir), plus her two youngest--whom she refers to simply as "da two-year-old" and "da one-year-old." (I guess by the fifth child, her creative energies were tapped out.)

She frequently concocts stories about her kids' preferences on clothing and food, and their experiences in a number of settings that are often eerily familiar to her own recent experiences. She even recounts tales of their misbehavior and the consequences. Heck, I expect her to create an "About My Baby" blog soon!

A case in point: Yesterday morning I took her to the doctor. She has eczema on the insides of her elbows. (Do you know how much prescription eczema cream costs? It must be made of gold.) Anyway, given her recent medical visit, it was no shock when, after dinner, she got one of her toy cell phones and called the pediatrician, too.

She chattered away for a bit, and then Steve and I heard her say, "I dink djee hab a ear inBECjun."

Fighting laughter, Steve said, "You know, someday when you grow up, you might get married and REALLY have kids. What do you think about that?" Katie gave him what was clearly a how-dumb-are-you look and just said, "Um, Daddy, I alREADy HAB chiwdren."

Comments:
Alisa: Geez, Dad, why are you so clueless? :-)

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Tue, Nov 18, 2008 2:30 PM
Katie continues to be thrilled about having her own desk ("my wourk air-we-uh," she calls it). Unfortunately for me, it has given her a whole new topic for criticism.

I still routinely hear her "helpful hints" about how if I dance or jump around like she does, I'll get a "mawl hiney" like she has. Yesterday after school, she was carrying on about how clean her desk is. I was fine with that part, but then she started tut-tutting about the state of mine: "Mommy, lure oppitz id METZY!" she said, shaking her head in dismay.

Sigh.

Comments:
Sarah: Maybe Katie will be a good life coach someday. Or a drill sergeant, lol!

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Fri, Nov 14, 2008 8:45 AM
Just a few things before I forget them:

* It's interesting to see what motivates Katie. I'm sure her idea of a negative consequence will change as she gets older (and wises up), but for now I am taking full advantage of her perceptions.

For instance, on nights when she's hesitant to go upstairs for her bath, all I have to do is tell her I'm going beat her up the stairs (I mean "beat" as in "outrun," not "spank" LOL). As soon as I say that, her competitive spirit practically shoves her right up the back staircase.

Another example: Last weekend, Steve and I decided to tackle the leaves in our yard (some of them, anyway). Katie was eager to help, and let me tell you... She really did! The girl can keep up with the best of them. While Steve used the gas blower to make big piles, she and I did the "detail" raking and loaded up a total of 14 big brown Home Depot bags. But, at one point, she and I were butting heads over who would use the big rake (she had her kiddie rake out there, too). I needed it for just a minute, but she was refusing to share it. I finally said, "Katie, if you don't hand me that rake right now, you will have to go inside." If that were me as a kid, I think I would've said, "OK--see ya!" But she handed it over fast to avoid being excluded from the project.

* Katie is OBSESSED with writing. She is continually writing cards for people, real and imaginary. And on almost any car ride longer than five minutes, she will ask for a pen and a notebook. She also has a collection of stapled-paper "books" that she is working on. (Woe unto anyone who misplaces one of these books, by the way!) Her handwriting still has a long way to go--at this point, it looks about like my brother's--but she can now write every letter uppercase and is getting better and better with lowercase. In fact, when she makes cards, she often asks me to spell names or words. Lately, I'm finding that I'm going too slowly for her, and she's getting impatient with me.

* Last Sunday, we took Katie to Chuck E. Cheese as her reward for filling up a sticker chart last month. (We had been having rough mornings, so I created the chart to reinforce good behavior. It worked; we're no longer doing a chart but the behaviors have stuck.) She is now keenly aware of the whole tickets-and-prizes system at Chuck E. Cheese. After earning all of about 60 tickets, she wanted to redeem them for a little stick of Laffy Taffy.

But she wanted to redeem them ALONE. Even though there was quite a line of people, she absolutely, positively insisted on handling it herself. I kept getting up and peeking at her, and at one point, I finally went up and offered to help. She didn't mind the wait, but she did mind me; she literally shoved me away with the admonition, "I am doing dis MYDELP!"

A few minutes later, Steve came back to the table where Danielle and I were sitting. "You know, Katie's over there by herself and I don't think anyone's helping her. I think I should go over and help," he said. Against my firm warnings, he offered his assistance and was also rebuked.

Katie did eventually get her prize--and I'm guessing that hard-won piece of candy was the best-tasting Laffy Taffy she'd ever chewed.

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Wed, Nov 12, 2008 9:00 AM
Yesterday brought a couple of firsts—both reminders of what’s on the horizon as Katie enters “real” school.

First #1
In Katie's mailbox was her first-ever homework assignment. I'm not sure how it all went down, but there was a note on the sheet stating that Katie had requested the assignment. She desperately wanted to work on it at “her” desk (one that’s been in our family room for quite awhile), but there isn’t enough light. So I insisted she work at the kitchen island. Once we got past that dispute, she happily completed the worksheet, which involved tracing numbers 1 through 10. It took her all of two minutes to do the work itself, and when she finished, I told her I’d put it in a safe place so she could take it back to her teacher. I guess she didn’t realize that’s how “homework” works; this idea enraged her, and she tried to rip the page. She eventually calmed down. However, I think her emotional reaction was mostly due to her state of mind following First #2….

First #2
Most afternoons when I arrive at Elbow Lane, Katie is busily playing in one of the centers. But yesterday, she was sitting alone on the loveseat in the reading center with a very sad expression on her face. In fact, it took me longer than usual to locate her. As I was looking around, another little girl informed me that Katie had been crying because so-and-so said she wasn’t allowed at her birthday party.

When I sat down with Katie, she burst into tears and told me the same story, adding, “But I LUB birt-day pawrties!” Now, I tend to be more logical than emotional, so when Katie told me the story, my mind immediately raced with hard facts. The most important fact: The other little girl’s birthday is in AUGUST, so I don’t think there are any party invitations out in the mail in November! LOL

I decided not to run through any facts with Katie, though. Instead, I gave her a hug (which made her burst into more tears), and then as we went to our car, I showed her a special “Shake-It-Off Dance” to do whenever someone says something that hurts her feelings. The teacher who was there at the time pulled me aside and said, “Once they know what buttons to push, they will—especially when they get a big reaction like that.” So, here’s hoping that next time, Katie chooses to dance, not cry!

Comments:
Allie: I'll have the name of the little girl that hurt Katie's feelings please!

Katie H.: Aww poor Katie. I hope this was an isolated event. Katie's a smart cookie though, I wonder if she will deploy the same tactic against her next nemesis.

Sarah: The shake it off dance is a great idea. I'll have to stash that one in my hip pocket!

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