By Golly I Think She's Got It

I consider myself easy to please. I'm very low maintenance. It doesn't take much to make me happy. Little things like a sale at Target tickles me pink. Dinner being ready when I get home makes me give my husband a little sumin' sumin'. You see? Easy to please.

Lael is very aware of this. She knows that the smallest feat will cause me to break out in a song and dance. I can't believe how far she's come since October.

She is now reading EVERYTHING! She loves going to the library and loves trying to figure out how to spell new words. Amazing what can happen in a few months.


A few weeks ago I got her report card. It was very good but I noticed that she isn't doing as well in her math and counting as she is in reading a writing.


I was not a bit surprised by this. I. HATE. MATH. I hate everything about it. If I'm not counting money, I'm not counting at all. So you can imagine that I didn't really focus on that aspect of her learning until recently.


I feel guilty because I don't want to be the reason she isn't excelling in that area. I decided to make it a part of our everyday routine. Whether she's counting groceries or how many barbies she has I have been determined to steer her in the right direction.


She isn't bad at all. She can count to 100 by 10's and 5's. We have started counting by 2's and she can get up to 20.


She is even learning how to divide up food.


"Mom, can me and D have some Thin Mints as my snack."


"Sure, but not too many."


"Ummm...ok, is 5 too many?"


"No 5 is fine but no more than that okay?"


"Ok mom!"


She ran into the kitchen (Whispers: "D mom said we can have 5 cookies...both of us!)and then quickly ran back to me with the cookies in her hand.


"Mom, there is only 6 cookies left, how can we both eat 5, there's not enough!"


"Well Lael, you and D need to have the same amount so you figure it out."


"(Counting to herself out load) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...."


Silence.


"3! We both get 3! That's even and fair!"


"That's right honey! You figured it out!"


Oh how proud I was! I never thought she would have figured it out but she proved me dead wrong.


While she had made so much progress, she still could not manage to count from 1-100. She would get to 27 and then say "28, 29, 2010", or "46, 47, 48, 49, 4010. I would ask her what comes after the 20's and she would say 30's so I would say ok, so what comes after 29 and she would say 30 but if she started over she would say 2010 again!


Oh how I had been pulling my hair out. I have been practicing with her everyday. While she in the bath, on the way to the library, riding in the car. Still she would get stuck after the "9's".


That is until tonight. My little girl has finally got it. I had slacked off this week and before bed asked her to count, fully expecting to have to help her. She had gotten to 75 before I realize I hadn't had to help her one time! By the time she was on 94 I was on the floor on my knees. She got to 99 and then stopped. I sat there. Waiting. Thinking she had made such progress. Suddenly she looked up and me and gave me a little wink and said "100!"


I screamed at the top of my lungs. I did a little booty dance and she giggled until she couldn't catch her breath. You see, it doesn't take much to please me. Just count to 100 and watch me drop it like it's hot.


Good job Lael, mommy is so proud of you!