Trouble... trouble trouble trouble

It's very rare, but as with any kid, sometimes Avery gets herself into trouble because of her choices.  I am not going to talk about the specifics and no, I'm not trying to put her on blast for getting in trouble, but rather for who she is in light of these moments.  When she gets herself into these spots it tends to be because she was following someone else's lead.  That does not excuse her from responsibility; it makes me worry about her all the more because it shows how susceptible she is to peer pressure.

What I can say is that she often tells on herself, she trusts me to come to me with those things -- for which I am so grateful.  She's contrite about what she's done as well.  She listens while I explain the repercussions and potential impacts, albeit with her head hanging a bit and tears.  Together we come up with a plan and she is diligent to do her part to try and make it right.

With each incident, even though they are far and few between, I think lessons are being learned that she will carry with her.  I pray that the message I gave her about God setting her apart to be unlike others and the encouragement I gave to stand up against things that are wrong rather than following along were absorbed.  Please say a prayer for my girl.  It's a hard world to be in when you are not of this world.

Water is expensive

Developmental swimming starts tonight.  Last night they had an hour and a half telephone call that made me want to weep.  Like I don't get enough meetings during the day?  They also mentioned the fundraisers that they do for the regular team and the volunteer requirements, lest you need to pay another $400 - and this is on top of the fees to participate to begin with.  It's insane.

I know for a fact we didn't have to deal with this when I was a kid.  What gives?

Also, this past weekend Avery went to Castle Blook in Monessen.  She liked it, I loved the decor, but she said it was boring.  I am translating that to mean it wasn't scary.  We're going to have to do a real haunted house and recallibrate.

Kick and Swim, Water and Ice

This week Avery got her 4th (white) stripe at jiu jitsu.  We'll be slowing our muay thai training here in October as a developmental team for swimming is spinning up and she wanted to partake.  It's two nights a week and focused on getting better, not on meets; that seems just like what we need - the in-between from lessons to swim team.  Hopefully then we will be ready for the swim team in the spring (if she's still into it).

Swimming will overlap through this month with her ice skating lessons.  She's doing great on the ice and was pulled from the group she was in to work independently with one instructor.  She's not quite as capable as the next group which is skating backwards etc, but she's working on it already.  Most importantly, she seems to enjoy it.

School is going well.  She loves her teacher.  Life is good.

Fruit of the Spirit - Helpfulness

Girl got her first award from school for fruits of the spirit, this time for helpfulness.  Of course, she can't remember what she did, but I guess that's a good thing, right?  It's just her being her - and she gets spotted.

Mom fail.

Girl lost her 8th tooth on Tuesday at school.  She promptly placed it for the tooth fairy when she got home.  I knew it was there.  I even told myself what to do and I prepared the materials.  This did not however translate to me taking care of business after she went to bed.  Nope, I played with the kittens, got a shower and zonked.  I didn't even realize until we were outside the next morning waiting for the bus.

But that's it, she hadn't said anything.  You'd think she would have been bummed and mentioned that the tooth fairy passed her over.  I was fretting, but maybe she didn't notice.  I consulted a friend and the bad mom decision was made like the icing on the bad mom move cake -- gaslight.  So I put the things out by the door off to the side and slipped the money into the tooth holder.

By the time she got home guess what?   I forgot again.  She went to change and came down with a smile and her goods in hand.  I said "what is that?"  She said "from the tooth fairy!"  I said "didn't you get it this morning?"  I swear she said "I didn't notice it this morning, I must have walked right by it."  She gaslit herself.

Success?

Birthday Girl

Today Avery turned 8.  I'm so very proud of her.  She's sweet, she's kind, she's smart, she's funny, she's helpful.  She is everything.  She still humors me for photos and the like.  I love that she'll still sit on my lap both at home and during the homily at church.  I know the time for that is growing short.  She asks for hugs and gives the best hugs back.

This year is an interesting one as she will be starting to do chores.  While we went over the things on her to do list and I explained that she would get an allowance (and what an allowance is) for completing her chores, she never once asked how much money -- so we still have that to negotiate.

2nd grade!

 And she's off!  Bus number 14 again, but not our beloved Miss Dawn.  We met our teacher and she seems delightful.  I think it's going to be a good year.