We have been running into some previously foreign issues around our house lately with regard to work ethic, maturity, hard work, taking the easy way, etc. I'm not sure where it's coming from, but it's entirely maddening!!
This is my eight-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Natalie Grace and the offending math assignment she was asked to do. As you can see, there is one square blank. Obviously, the problems are not difficult for her (as evidenced by the following ones which are the same type).
[In case it's not clear, she can't figure out: 24 ft = ____ yd or 42 ft = _____ yd. But she can figure out that 13 ft = 4 yd 1 ft, 40 ft = 13 yd 1 ft]
However, just as obvious is her disdain for the expectation that she do her work on her own. How dare I, you know?
We have been battling some issues with these types of behaviors for the last few (six or so) months and while I know I'm not alone, this is certainly a ride I'd like to get off!!
To be honest, I thought that the fact that we were consistent and firm in our parenting style from essentially Day One with her ~ and the fact that we had a hard-working, driven, self-motivated child ~ basically exempted us from this stage. I was clearly wrong.
That said, I am encouraged by knowing that she has it all in there and she is (more than) capable of stepping up to the plate. However, I'm discouraged by the fact that we're having to do some of the tough parenting and poke and prod her along. No, that's not helping in the self-motivation department, but it is helping in the hard work, accountability departments.
I know this is just scratching the surface of some of these bigger parenting hurdles regarding character and more, but it's certainly throwing us for a bit of a loop.
In good news, we had a nice evening complete with hard work on some Spanish work, good effort at diving, and off to bed without any further adieu. Hallelujah!!
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