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Charting
Bug and I are charting. (Not that kind of charting. More the put-up-a-chart-on-the-fridge-and-track-your-progress- towards-a-goal kind of chart.) Bribery schmibery—whatever works is my policy these days. Charts worked pretty well for potty-training so I’m trying them out for brushing teeth and exercise. Teeth-brushing for Bug and exercise for me. We both seem to struggle in these areas and it is entirely my fault.
We’ve been so lax with Bug and brushing her teeth which is horrible, I know! It’s just that we have hard teeth in our family and I know she will probably inherit that trait. I’m not worried about her teeth rotting away. I’ve never had a cavity in my entire life and I think Toby only has a few. Gum disease maybe, but our teeth will last forever. But that’s no excuse to let Bug grow up without healthy habits so we are working on it.
Bug gets a star every time she brushes her teeth and after seven stars she gets a treat. I probably will have to move it up to more than seven stars but we’re setting our goals low to start out. Her treats will be a trip to our favorite yogurt store or a surprise (which I have yet to determine but I’m thinking something special like a trip to a new park or a picnic).
So far it’s working really well. The after-meal torture has turned into a new fun game. And no, she can’t get two stars for brushing with two toothbrushes.
So far the chart is working really well for me too. We got up early and took a long run/walk/jog to a nearby beach. Too bad there was a milkshake stand at the end of that particular jaunt which completely defeated my purpose for the exercise in the first place but we’re taking baby steps.
If anybody wants a chart too, email me and maybe I’ll make it available via pdf.Charts for YOU!
and a bonus:
(Though, uh…your guess is as good as mine as to how to use it. We just filled up the rows for whatever day we were on with stars and then got candy when a row was filled up. It doesn’t make sense if you’re super anal but it worked for us.)
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So, yeah. I’m pretty dense sometimes.
I feel pretty silly now for getting all worked up about the preschool incident. I guess it was a good lesson learned by me. I’ll probably hear opinions from teachers from now until Bug’s graduation so it’s probably wise that I learn to smile and nod early on. I do think the teacher meant well but obviously she doesn’t know us very well yet.
I do feel like an idiot for being so insecure about something that I should not be. Bug and I do a lot every day. And deep in my heart I didn’t think there was anything wrong with her. Sure, she frustrates me at times and the teacher tapped right into our latest battle but these frustrations are nothing new or monumental. It’s just part of being a mom of a very vocal three-year-old.
I am so blessed and thankful.
A lot of that thankfulness is directed back at you readers who keep coming back everyday with encouraging and insightful (and funny!) comments. You guys really hit your point home and I have had a complete change of mind because of it. I don’t know why I doubted myself so much in the first place. Thank you.
Now let’s get back to our regularly scheduled program!
