Homework is to be Done at Full Volume, Protesting

[judifilksign]

 Sparkle had homework tonight, and yowled her way through it, yelling protest (but writing everything perfectly) the entire time.  

"I DON'T WANT TO WRITE MY SPELLING WORDS!"  
"I DON'T WANT TO READ MY BOOK!"  
After she reads each line in the book:  "THAT'S NOT MY NAME AND I DIDN'T WANT TO READ THAT!"  for all ten pages.
"I DON'T CARE THAT SAY 'AM'."  
"I DON'T CARE THAT SAY 'HERE'."  
"I DON'T CARE THAT SAY 'ARE'."  
"I DON'T CARE THAT SAY 'AT'."  
"IT SAY 'ALL' AND I AM ALL DONE!  YOU ARE NOT LISTENING YOU ARE A MEAN MOMMY STOP PLAYING ROUGH I AM ALL DONE!"  (Kiddo, you haven't seen me play rough, and I think I've put up with an awful lot from you...)

I decided that battle I wanted to win was accomplishing the homework, rather than quiet while she did it.  This, we achieved.

I have to remind myself that before school started, I could not GET verbal protests when Sparkle was upset, merely unhappy crying and rocking and running away.  The ability to express her dislikes, with exactly what is wrong, is still fairly new.  So at least I know exactly what Sparkle thinks about homework.  Clearly, schoolwork is for school, and home is for fun stuff.  I was breaking the rules such as she understood them from routines thus far.

My nerves are still frazzled, though.

Comments

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

How wonderful that she can express herself now. Though you might try to work on the volume of the expression, I think it's great that you let her talk.

My little girl is a teenager, and it takes forever to get her to be willing to share her thoughts and feelings with a parent.

It is a big transition for any kid to go from no homework to regular homework. Perhaps if you explain it as a graduation of sorts it will help.

[pondside.livejournal.com]

I'm so proud of both of you!!!

Does it help at all for her to see her brothers having to do homework also? Helping her make that connection could be a breakthrough. (but what do I know?)

hugs and hopes for volume modulation and understanding continuing to increase.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

She will sometimes get a coloring book and "work" with them.

I had started her homework as soon as I got home, before the boys got in. I was trying to have my undivided attention with her. I will see whether doing homework at the same time as her big brothers will help. That's a good idea. Thanks!

[shaddyr]

Ahh, I grok this battle.

Monkey boy settled into a routine of homework and tutoring and now it's part of the at home routine and not so foreign. I am sure that, with time, Sparkle with acclimate as well.

Might be a bit noisy till then, though.

*sends you virtual chocolate*

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I will allow virtual chocolate, as it has no actual effect on my blood sugars, and it does have real soothing effects for my blood pressure!

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

OY Kitteh is sympathetic.
Yes, verbal is good. Loud Not So Good.
Jennie has found last child does better with schoolwork (they are home schooled it is all homework) when he is "doing the same thing" as his big brothers.
Hopefully that will help Sparkle.
*hugs* and more virtual chocolate.

[bigbumble.livejournal.com]

My father used to have a saying, "Young ladies are born, but young gentlemen are hewn, by their mothers, out of solid resistance."

Methinks Sparkle fits better into the later category than the first.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

OMG, methinks you are right. I guess Sparkle is a chip from my own block, and now I must shape it however I can. I'm thinking that if I have enough soothing flow, the rough edges will wash away...or is that my tears of joy and frustration that will do it?

[mewsrissicat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think Mommy needs to stock up on treats for these sort of days. ^_^

(Edited for spelling fail.)