Miss Smarty Pants

I wish that, A). I weren't so technologically challenged and, B). I were more motivated to do something about the fact that I am. I have the cutest picture of Lyra and the MagnaDoodle but I can't post it because my new camera doesn't automatically load pictures into my blogger picture posting program like my last camera did. Darn. Now I have to coerce Landon into sitting down and figuring this out. So far, he is not cooperating!

The reason the picture is so cute is because she wrote her name all by herself for the first time.

The more children I have, the more of a believer I become in watching your young children for signs of readiness for scholastic endeavor, not forcing it on them. It takes so much less effort to teach them that way! Lyra just started drawing shapes a few months ago and she learned to write a few of her capitol letters but showed no interest in writing her name until Thursday of last week.

I was sitting on the sofa reading and Lyra came in the front door with a pine branch that one of the boys had cut off of a tree with a pocket knife (it looked like a broom). She said "Mom, I not have anything to do". I said "you can get a book and sit up here with me and read, if you like" and she said "no, I want to follow you around while you sweep and I do this" and she proceeded to sweep the floor with the pine branch (VERY cute, and I must confess that I laughed a little even though she was very serious). I said "no, I like your broom, but I'm reading right now" so she decided to lie on the floor at my feet and color. I noticed that she had written an upper case L and was trying to write something next to it on the top of the page she was working on. She soon asked me how to make a "y" so I got up and wrote her whole name,, L-y-r-a, on the paper. She tried to write it once or twice but quickly went back to coloring. The next morning during school, I got out the MagnaDoodle, showed her how to make a "y", let her practice a few times, showed her how to make an "r", let her practice a few times, showed her how to make an "a", let her practice a few times and then told her to write her name. And she did it!!!:):):).

I'll put up the pic whenever I can but I wanted to record that for posterity's sake and for the grandparents, aunts and uncles. Our girl is a smarty pants and for the record, she is driving me NUTS with all the "why, why, why" right now.

I say, "Lyra, it's time for bed, brush your teeth"

Lyra "Why?"

Me "so your teeth won't rot. Go to the potty when you are done"

Lyra, "Why?"

Me "so you won't pee-pee in the bed. Come here and let me help you with your pajamas"

Lyra , "Why?"

Me "because it is time for bed"

Lyra "Why?"

Tonight, I told her "the proper answer is 'yes ma'am'. No more why's about bedtime". I think I have been catering to the question a little bit absentmindedly lately. Do you ever do that? Realize that you are unwittingly training a bad habit into your child?

None-the-less, she is very, VERY cute although she has lost most of her baby fat and is now definitely looking like a little girl rather than a toddler. sigh. She can't wait for her new brother or sister to arrive and asks questions about the baby all the time. She pretty much talks incessantly and has energy to spare, and that's for sure. In fact, she is upstairs talking and laughing right now (with Silas and Solomon - she is sleeping on the floor in their room tonight) while she is supposed to be going to sleep so I guess I should run and tend to that party.