As I wrote earlier, Vern is down to the wire on getting his reading complete for the quarter. He found a book to read that he needed to get finished over the weekend so he could take the test on Monday.
We talked about this on Friday before school. "Read hard this weekend."
"I will mom."
So Sunday night I decide to call him and see how the reading is going.
"Hi Honey, what are you doing?"
"Not much mom."
"Get a lot of reading done like we talked about?"
Silence.... followed by "Yes, I guess."
"Well that is good. Get the book finished and take that test tomorrow."
"Ok, bye mom."
Fast forward to Monday after school. I call home to check on them.
"Hello."
"Hi Vern, how is it going?"
"Good."
"Are you getting your homework all done?"
"Yes."
"That is great."
"Mom" (said in a sad - pathetic - quiet sort of voice)
"Yes honey?"
"I kind of lied to you."
"About what?"
"Reading, (pause) I didn't read all weekend at dad's."
"How come???? I mean I called you last night to see how it was going."
"Well there was a movie on - Rudy, and dad said it was good and so I wanted to watch it."
"I'm disappointed at your poor choice."
"I'm really sorry mom, I will read 80 minutes tonight."
"Ok, I will see you soon."
Instead of being discouraged at his lack of reading (that is typical behavior there) I am taking away 2 positives from this: 1. He did fess up to his lie. (which before he never would do even though he would get caught anyway) 2. He apologized and followed through with reading the entire 80 minutes last night.
Progress.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Altercations with a hormonal sister
Vern's sister Ann is going through her change from girl to woman.
Poor Vern does not have a clue what this entails. It is not just Vern, most men have no idea that these beautiful, innocent, sweet girls are perfect one day and in the blink of an eye turn evil. I am talking the Devil himself emerging from these pubecent girls. They all do it. Heck even I remember going through it. It is not pleasant for either side.
The look of pure evil spewing from their eyes.
Their tongues are forked and speak like a serpent.
Their voice boxes emit high pitched squeeling and screaming that can be heard for blocks!
And their fingernails....wow straight from the steelmill and sharp as can be.
Vern found out about all of the above just this week from the sister.
They got into quite an altercation after school the other day. She did not want him following her into the house even though it was only around 20 degress outside. So she tries to prevent him from coming in. Well Vern was having none of that and barges his way into the house. Here the fury of Lucifer erupts and Ann full out attacks him for entering her domain for no other reason than he must not follow her and NEVER NEVER NEVER touch her in any way.
I get the phone call after and say I will handle it when I get home.
Let's just say I am glad I had instilled the pay-up rule for physical injuries given to each other. Ann had to pay Vern $5 for leaving marks. His face was all scratched up and bloody.
Plus she hated every single penny she had to give her brother.
Just think only a few more years of living with Satan herself.... I wonder if any of us will survive.
Poor Vern does not have a clue what this entails. It is not just Vern, most men have no idea that these beautiful, innocent, sweet girls are perfect one day and in the blink of an eye turn evil. I am talking the Devil himself emerging from these pubecent girls. They all do it. Heck even I remember going through it. It is not pleasant for either side.
The look of pure evil spewing from their eyes.
Their tongues are forked and speak like a serpent.
Their voice boxes emit high pitched squeeling and screaming that can be heard for blocks!
And their fingernails....wow straight from the steelmill and sharp as can be.
Vern found out about all of the above just this week from the sister.
They got into quite an altercation after school the other day. She did not want him following her into the house even though it was only around 20 degress outside. So she tries to prevent him from coming in. Well Vern was having none of that and barges his way into the house. Here the fury of Lucifer erupts and Ann full out attacks him for entering her domain for no other reason than he must not follow her and NEVER NEVER NEVER touch her in any way.
I get the phone call after and say I will handle it when I get home.
Let's just say I am glad I had instilled the pay-up rule for physical injuries given to each other. Ann had to pay Vern $5 for leaving marks. His face was all scratched up and bloody.
Plus she hated every single penny she had to give her brother.
Just think only a few more years of living with Satan herself.... I wonder if any of us will survive.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
A phone call to Vern
****** RING - RING******
****** RING - RING******
****** RING - RING******
me thinking (are they going to answer?)
****** RING - RING******
Vern: "MOMMMMM you are bothering me!"
Me: "Oh, I am sorry what is going on?"
Vern: "I am reading."
Me: "You are?" Said in stunned disbelief.
Vern: "Yes now good bye!"
Click
Vern read by himself and without prodding. Maybe all our nagging is working????
Well, at least for this week.
****** RING - RING******
****** RING - RING******
me thinking (are they going to answer?)
****** RING - RING******
Vern: "MOMMMMM you are bothering me!"
Me: "Oh, I am sorry what is going on?"
Vern: "I am reading."
Me: "You are?" Said in stunned disbelief.
Vern: "Yes now good bye!"
Click
Vern read by himself and without prodding. Maybe all our nagging is working????
Well, at least for this week.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Another episode of "frustration"
Vern is required to read so many books at a certain level each quarter at school. This varies per child and their ability.
1st semester he achieved his goals abiet barely.
This quarter not so much. He is suppose to get a total of 20 points this quarter. Depending on the book, each one can be from 3-10 points. There is less than a month left in the quarter and Vern has 2 points... A MEASLY 2 points.
I nag.
I lecture.
I beg.
I nag some more.
Vern ..................................................tuned out.........................................................
It is not like he doesn't read. He has started around 5 books this quarter. One book he even completed but the problem was his teacher was also reading it to them during school so she wouldn't count it as a book he could test on. FRUSTRATION. I asked Vern before he even started that book if the teacher said it would be ok. He assured me with his innocent sweet face that she said yes. At conferences I find out differently. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR On the other 4 books Vern gets about 50 pages or so into it and decides he just can't finish it. He has many reasons that are valid to a 10 year old.
It is to hard to understand.
It is borrrrrrring.
I don't like it.
DA Mom...............................................tuned out...........................................................................
I refuse to accept these excuses. So we are at a stand off. HOW on earth do I get this kid over the reading bump? I need to figure out some trick to making him a life long reader. I know these things don't just happen. It isn't like he is in a void where no one in the family reads. John and Ann are good readers. I absolutely LOVE to read. The kids all know I will buy them books IF they will read them. We have checked bookstores for football books. Those are slim pickins I might add. Maybe 1 book if we are lucky.
Ideas?
1st semester he achieved his goals abiet barely.
This quarter not so much. He is suppose to get a total of 20 points this quarter. Depending on the book, each one can be from 3-10 points. There is less than a month left in the quarter and Vern has 2 points... A MEASLY 2 points.
I nag.
I lecture.
I beg.
I nag some more.
Vern ..................................................tuned out.........................................................
It is not like he doesn't read. He has started around 5 books this quarter. One book he even completed but the problem was his teacher was also reading it to them during school so she wouldn't count it as a book he could test on. FRUSTRATION. I asked Vern before he even started that book if the teacher said it would be ok. He assured me with his innocent sweet face that she said yes. At conferences I find out differently. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR On the other 4 books Vern gets about 50 pages or so into it and decides he just can't finish it. He has many reasons that are valid to a 10 year old.
It is to hard to understand.
It is borrrrrrring.
I don't like it.
DA Mom...............................................tuned out...........................................................................
I refuse to accept these excuses. So we are at a stand off. HOW on earth do I get this kid over the reading bump? I need to figure out some trick to making him a life long reader. I know these things don't just happen. It isn't like he is in a void where no one in the family reads. John and Ann are good readers. I absolutely LOVE to read. The kids all know I will buy them books IF they will read them. We have checked bookstores for football books. Those are slim pickins I might add. Maybe 1 book if we are lucky.
Ideas?
Monday, February 7, 2011
TOO funny not to post
One of Vern's jobs every night is to set the table. I made stew tonight. He did great by determining we were having stew and not setting plates on the table as he usually does. Vern had soup bowls and spoons all set.
Vern is also very smart in that he knows Superman does not like a regular spoon to eat cereal, soup, ice cream, etc., basically anything you need a spoon to eat. Vern knows Superman likes a tablespoon to eat these things with. So you can imagine my surprise when I walk in the door tonight and see this at Supermans place setting.
We must be out of clean soup spoons. That is an ice cream scoop if you can't see it to well.
Still laughing.
Vern is also very smart in that he knows Superman does not like a regular spoon to eat cereal, soup, ice cream, etc., basically anything you need a spoon to eat. Vern knows Superman likes a tablespoon to eat these things with. So you can imagine my surprise when I walk in the door tonight and see this at Supermans place setting.
We must be out of clean soup spoons. That is an ice cream scoop if you can't see it to well.
Still laughing.
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