Oh, How True

I would give my kids anything to make their ride on this planet more fulfilling. One thing I'm sure to give them is a sense of proportion-of how we in our corner of the planet are obligated to the rest of it because of our vast riches.

I say I'm sure to give this to them because I am so freakishly cheap--they are not likely to develop a sense of entitlement in my house, where the most oft heard word is "no."

So if you knew about Norah's private, in home tap dancing lessons you might wonder about them. Have no fear, they were (long story short) a gift from the grandparents.

We had a rough go during tap lessons this morning. Norah is not unusually gifted with co-ordination. Or patience. I spoke with the teacher before our classes began, saying perhaps we should just do "playing" lessons. I asked if she could teach her to sing a song as the real class objective. Norah is unusually gifted with her memory...well, she remembers song lyrics better than I do anyway.

The teacher agreed that was a great idea and then went ahead to do a traditional class program anyway. Teachers loss, I suppose, since all she is getting out of the deal is two half hours of consternation a week.

After tap fiasco we had some shopping,where in which I used a gift card and picked up some parenting books, Dare to Discipline and The Strong Willed Child. I don't claim yet that either of my girls are particualry strong willed, I just thought reading how it could be worse would make me feel better.

From the dollar table the girls each picked out a paper project Christmas Tree in a box. Fun, right? It was. But it was challenging and Norah tired out of it after a good half hour or so. I directed her to take it apart carefully and put it in the box carefully. With some little grumbling, she did it. And then with a heavy sigh she said, "It is hard work to be a good girl."

Oh, how true.