Wednesday Musings

This post might be all over the place.  Consider yourself warned.

Last weekend we had a blast going to different activities with the kiddos.  Monday came along and we chose not to let our kids Trick-or-Treat.  There are many reasons behind this decision.

First, we don't believe in begging and our kids have learned that to be a constant rule in our home- no begging for something.  ToT is a little like begging neighbors for candy... It just didn't feel like something that we wanted our kids to be part of. 

Second, it was a school night and both kids had a lot of homework and we know that if they aren't in bed by 8pm, they are a mess the following day. 

Third, neither of us really think Halloween teaches anything to our kids of great importance.  Our kids like to dress silly and act funny on regular days and we encourage that. We didn't feel they needed to be surrounded by images of monsters, blood, or sexy costumes. 

That night our daughter showed me her planner and said she failed her math test.  She finally brought home that math test  (I had to sign it) and her teacher said she was highly distracted on Friday and not acting like herself.  Of course, when asking my daughter about it she says she was working very hard the whole time- but obviously she was not.  She even went as far as to say that the teacher was wrong- that she got the questions right but the teacher didn't realize it.  When I sat with her to talk about the errors and see if she could figure them out, she saw that she had done them wrong. 

She is still crying about every little thing.  When I tell her an answer is incorrect in her homework she breaks down bawling saying she can't do it.  I ask her if she does that as school and she says she doesn't.  How much is frustration and how much is now learned manipulation?  She knows we know it is hard for her-- so turn on the tears and she think we will help her or let her get out of doing the work.  If I sit with her she asks me every step of the way if she is doing it correctly.  I give her a few moments and a few problems to make sure she is on the right track, and then I tell her she needs to work independently... Then she breaks down.  If I don't sit with her, she will never finish her work....

This morning Kara got her ready for school and said she was in slow motion.  She wasn't ready in time to get her hair done or wash her face.  So, she started this day "off" and we will see how she does in school.  I have a feeling it will be an off day all day. 

I wish I could understand what sets this in motion?  Triggers? Time of year? Neurochemistry?