Last week was spring break for our crew. On a few of those days the word “spring” was very misleading, but I think the weather may finally be moving in that direction in these parts. We didn’t do anything exotic, but we squeezed in a few days trips to area attractions.
One day we went to a children’s museum in Chattanooga. It was a good trip until the Preschooler fell off her stool at the water play table into a huge puddle and soaked herself from head to toe. If you ask her she’ll tell you that “a little boy pushed her down.” But, the Spouse and I were on either side of her and saw no evidence of foul play. She just likes a good story.
On another day we went to a nearby dairy farm and toured their production facility.
They require hair nets be worn inside the facility, and this was very upsetting to the Kindergartener. She doesn’t mind to look silly for the sake of being silly, but she cannot stand to look silly for serious purposes.
After a pep talk and an attempted escape, she agreed to comply and continue with the tour. And, by the time the tour wrapped up and she got to enjoy her own huge scoop of Oreo ice cream, she was a very happy camper. Not happy enough to smile for a picture with “Maggie” the cow {because again, a giant cow sitting in the parking lot is a silly photo op}, but I promise she had a good time.
Over the break I also tried to spend some time working with the Kindergartener on her reading skills. She hasn’t been all that interested in learning to sound out words and put them together, but with a little encouragement she made some big strides. In fact, by the end of the week she was excited to pull out some beginning reader books and work her way through them. The only thing is, she needs an audience. At one point on Saturday she was working on a book with the Spouse when she came in and asked me to help her read it.
Me: I thought you were reading your book to Daddy.
The Kindergartener: I was. But, he fell asleep.
Sure enough it was true. Snoring away.
How can he not appreciate the literary genius of Pinkalicious: The Princess of Pink Slumber Party?? Some people just don’t know a good story when they hear one.
If I can survive the sounding out of all the words, my favorite part of reading with kids this age is hearing their pronunciations.
For example, this page…
Sounds exactly like this:
“Not one of them is like an udder. Don’t ask us why. Go ask your mudder.”
I’m going to be so sad when she masters the “th” sound and no longer says “mudder” and “fodder” for “mother” and “father.”
Fortunately, she calls me “Mama” and not “Mudder,” though “Mudder” might actually make me sound pretty tough. Like, “Don’t mess with her. She’s my mudder.”
I think I could get used to it.
Anyway, spring break is ober and I better get to doing udder things.
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