A Constructive Day

Yesterday was what I call a GOOD day with Beth.

Morning - As I tried to make a dent in the pile of ironing, Beth helped me take the pressed clothes to the bedroom. And this without being asked. I praised her lavishly for being a good helper.

Later - Beth and I cuddled up in bed, with Baby J propped on my lap, and read Dr Seuss' A Classic Treasury out loud. We enjoyed The Cat in the Hat, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, and Green Eggs and Ham.

Confession: I never read Dr Seuss as a child and am delighted to meet the audacious, ever creative Cat and to twist my tongue around the fantastical, nonsensical rhymes of Dr S.

There's persistent Sam who keeps offering green eggs and ham to his friend:

Would you like them
in a house?
Would you like them
with a mouse?

[Reply]
I do not like them
in a house.
I do not like them
with a mouse.
I do not like them
here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Then there's this dialogue between the smart alecky Fox and longsuffering Knox in the 4th tale, Fox In Socks:

New socks.
Two socks.
Whose socks?
Sue's socks.

Who sews whose socks?
Sue sews Sue's socks.

Who sees who sew whose new socks, sir?
You see Sue sew Sue's new socks, sir.

[And like Mr. Knox, we may well reply...]

I can't blab such blibber blubber!
My tongue isn't made of rubber.

*Hee*

Beth's Taste in TV

Hey now
Hey now now
Jane and the Dragon are best friends now
- From theme song of "Jane and the Dragon" which shows on ABC @ 4.30 pm on weekdays

ABC Kids has replaced Hi-5! on Beth's hit list of kids' programmes. Nothing engages her as intensely as what happens on ABC from 3-5 pm on a weekday, unless it's one of her stash of books from the library, or a sudden desire to do art&craft.

I can't understand this switch of loyalties. I've watched Pocoyo, The Wiggles, Bob The Builder and Playhouse and nothing beats Hi-5. Tim, Nathan, Kathleen, Charli & Kelly are 5 of the most gorgeous and funky young people I've seen. They always look so vibrant and energetic, like they are having fun themselves and not just performing for their preschool audience.

Video Tutorial: How To Swaddle A Baby

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When NO Isn't Enough

Am entangled in the mess called "Disciplining Your Preschooler".

It used to be simple. If I threatened to send Beth to the corner, she would meekly apologize, and harmony would be restored.

These days, I say "No" and she ignores me.
I say "Go to the corner" and she says "No!".
I say "Drink your honey" and she says "Okay" but continues to do whatever she was doing before I spoke.
I put on my No Compromises facial expression and she responds with sulky face and arms akimbo.
Sometimes she even storms off before I'm done.

This battle of the wills makes me feel like a total failure at parenting. Where is the sweet compliant child who willingly said "Please" and "Thank you" and greeted our friends without prompting?

I checked with Alison, mother of Daniel (5). She confirmed that yes, D is also pushing the boundaries and wearing her out with his rebellion but he has to learn that No means No.

And it's not like I'm a softie where discipline's concerned. I was reared in the "Do as I say because I'm your mother" school and never dared to openly defy my mum, not at the age of 5 anyway. I cannot understand where Beth gets her streak of rebelliousness from, much less what to do about it.

The Good Book warns: "Spare the rod and spoil the child."

Perhaps it's time for a return to good old fashioned spanking and caning.

Something Beth Might Say :p

From Beth's Chinese textbook

妈妈：飞飞，蛋糕呢？

飞飞：吃完了。

妈妈：冰激凌呢？

飞飞：吃完了。

妈妈：果汁儿呢？

飞飞：喝完了。

妈妈：你的作业呢？做完了吗？

飞飞：没做完。

妈妈：为什么？

飞飞：作业不好吃，也不好喝。