Away in a Manger

On Sunday M was to play "Away in a Manger" as part of the program.  B is always asleep when we get to church so P stays outside with him.  I sit in the pew with the 3 big ones that try to make each other scream.  lP tries to head but me quite often. 

So we were there having our usual drama when lP started to attack M.  So I took lP out into the hall.  A short while later I hear M start to play.  So I stuck my head back in to watch her.  Poor little girl, with no parents, goes up by herself to play, cool as a cucumber. 

This was the most people she has ever played for and she did it without either parent there, as far as she knew.  I love her independence.

Not just piano

M bought a balloon animal kit at the dollar store. 

M caught a lizard, built it a terrarium and named it Bob.

She amazes me with her abilities.

My favorite M

This sweet girl.  She is able to keep trying things like difficult piano passages, the monkey bars, and so many other things.  She has not been good with money though.  G is a miser.  He has $33 and he'll talk about how he'd like to spend it but in the end he'd rather not waste his money.  M has $0.25 and she wants to go to Publix and get candy.  She recently had a space maintainer put in her mouth so she can't eat most of her favorite candies.  She had $3 recently and begged to go to the dollar store.  We went and she wasted her money.  It's all part of a learning process. 

Then once she didn't have $3 anymore she saw some moon shoes at the thrift store for $3.  Heart break! 

So I told her that I wasn't going to take her anywhere to spend money until she had at least $3 because anything that cost less than $3 is just junk (or bananas...). 

We went to Tuesday Morning for a shower brush and she saw lots of toys that she wanted to get.  One was $3.99 and she's got $3.40.  So now she's talking about how she wants to save up her money until she has enough to buy 2 of the toys she has.  I'm so excited that she's setting her sights on a goal, instead of throwing away her money on whatever she can buy.  I'm going to let her earn a little extra this week. 

Seriously, if she can learn to love the one that's "best" and not just settle for what she can buy now, that will bless her life for years, if not eternity.

Birthday Party

Last year M and some other girls at the homeschool group were big into birthday talk.  It was January and I was tired of it.  Then it was February and I was done.  I told M that if she didn't stop talking about birthday plans there would be no birthday party in June.  She kept talking about birthdays and the consequence fell.

Our standard birthday party is to have pizza at a park and invite everyone we know.  So last year M got to go to BK with Dad, G and P.

So this year there has been minimal birthday talk.  We did make invitations 2 weeks ago.  They were pretty simple, and M colored in the big 7 on each invitation.  Then she passed them out to people at church.  I'm so proud of her for inviting her teacher and Sister R.  Sister R has no children but does have a dog named Bear and we visited her one time.

I love that she has friends of all ages.

Ok, it's not just hard work

M is very good at the piano.  People tell her this every time they hear her play.  They assume it's talent, like she sat down at the piano and just could play.  "She's got musical, and musically trained parents, so of course she's going to be able to play."

When people attribute her skill to talent, I want to protest, and claim that effort got her where she is.  I certainly want M to understand that work leads to improvement. 

Talent + no effort = anxiety disorder

Talent + work = I can do this

She's a little girl and would really prefer to be on a soccer team, go to dancing lessons, be in gymnastics, karate, or a pet...  We just haven't given her those options.

And she's homeschooled so she doesn't have any friends or distractions.

But even with all that in her favor, it is a special kid who just goes into the front room and practices every day.  A special kid who picks out primary songs by ear with I, IV, V, I chords in Alberti Bass, for fun.

She's a special kid.

Beautiful

M is amazing.  Piano is going really well.  She's watching the sound of music for the first time.  It's the first time I've let her watch a "love story".  I'm so glad for her to see this example of people falling in love with people who are good.  Rolf and Leisle have a young love.  But Rolf doesn't know who he is yet.  And then he chooses to follow someone evil.  Herr Von Trap is the romantic lead because he is willing to give up all his earthly possessions to keep his family from the evil of Hitler.

friends

At home M was telling me that J has a python. She then went on about how if we had a python we could keep it until it got too big. Then we could let it go outside. I gave her an ear-full about people who are bad pet owners and release lethal animals into the wild. Then she said "J's snake felt a little bit like plastic..." I think she thought I was trash talking J

...

Digital Piano Win

This morning I walked into the kitchen and heard the beautiful sound of silent keys.  M was already awake and practicing with the headphones in.  I love that girl.  I love that she can practice anytime silently. 

modest

I got a sweet dress for M at the thrift store for $2.50.  It's red, and ruffly, and made by Gap.  So I brought it home and altered it (it was meant to be a short dress on a size 12 girl) to fit a tall 6 year old.  When I put it on M, she noted that it was not modest in front.  So I added some fabric, tastefully, I think, to make it modest.  You don't ever want to lower your daughters conscience of modesty.

Also, we got her a pair of saltwaters sandals, brand new.  She hasn't had new/new shoes in 4 years.  She was delightfully grateful.  What a sweet kid.  I'll have to post a picture of how cute she is in this outfit.  The goal, for me, is to up the Sunday game a bit.  She isn't 4 anymore so it's time, and well past time, to make more effort to teach her to appreciate looking nice.