Sometimes it feels like we never stop correcting, repeating, teaching and disciplining our kids. No matter if you have one kid or 4 kids, it seems like a constant chore to get your message through to your kids. It seems like forever ago, but back in the day when we just had Lily we spent a great deal of time working on her manners and correcting her to say please, thank you, yes sir, yes ma'am, and above all don't say "yeah". Not sure why, but that word coming from a kids mouth grinds my gears and makes me want to drop kick them right on the spot. To this day, we still remind and correct Lily along with the other 3 monsters proper manners and how to speak to others politely. Maybe someone else can explain this to me, but there is this phenomenon that happens when other people are around your kids versus when they are at home with you. Just when you start to think that you may have dropped every one of your children on their heads and have blocked it from your memory because what you are telling them does not seem to be sinking through their thick skulls, somebody compliments your child for being so well behaved. After a moment of slack jawed bewilderment, you ask, "you must be kidding, my child?" Then you realize that the little monsters really do hear and listen to you, they just dont' want to give you the personal satisfaction or make your job as a parent any easier along the way.
While it can be a chore, nothing makes you prouder than hearing another parent tell you how polite your child is. We are proud of all our children, and Lily being the oldest having endured our repetitive corrections for the longest time is truly one of the most well mannered kids I know. This year she has taken home from school the award for "Most Respectful", and just yesterday she took home the Pride Award for "Most Dependable". These are 2 qualities that will serve her well throughout her life. Her receiving these awards, and hearing compliments from others reminds us that after a long day of constantly correcting, we make the effort to tell each of our kids how proud of them we are. Those words of praise always seem to sink in much quicker than the rules and demands. While putting Lawson down for bed and loving on him, he will put his head on your shoulder, pat your back, and say "Daddy, I so proud of you".
We are proud of Lily for her awards, her good grades, and nothing makes me swell with pride more than watching her play soccer or basketball and give it her all. She may not have the best skills in soccer or basketball, but she I'll put her determination up against any other kid. When she comes off the field, she is spent from giving it her all. She was playing defense in a game a few weeks ago and the other team was coming up the field with Lily and the goalie as the last line of defense. Lily started to inch closer and as soon as saw the ball get a little too far from the other player she took off in a blur to attack the ball. It happened in a flash, but when the encounter ended all that was left was Lily standing over the other girl on the ground as if to say, "don't come in my house". At least that's the way I saw it, and so did the other dads because we were high fiving like it was the Superbowl. And don't try to post up on her on the block in basketball. She is not afraid to throw an elbow in your chest to get in front of you.
We are proud of Abby and Chloe for finally achieving the goal of neither of them wetting the bed for a week straight. The amount of sheets we have washed since they went to big girl underwear is staggering. Whenever a child is in a confrontation, it's hard not to jump right in and solve the problem for them. It actually entertains me to watch my kids try to resolve issues, especially when it involves somebody elses child. A little boy was picking on Chloe one day, and Abby walked up and stood next to Chloe and they both proceeded to give kid the riot act. That kid backed down so fast, and Abby and Chloe just gave each other look that said don't worry, I got your back.
Lawson doesn't need us to be proud of him though we certainly are. He is most often proud of himself for his antics that he needs very little encouragement. He will be walking by one of the other children and purposefully bump into them while saying "sowwy" at the same time. Then he just looks up with a big grin on his face and could care less if he is about to get in trouble. Clearly we are in for another ER visit soon, because his favorite line right now are the famous last word, "hey, watch this!"
Jeff, Kasey, Lily, Abby, Chloe, and Daredevil Lawson Boy
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