How To Be A Friend, by Elizabeth

Tomorrow is the 100th day of school as well as Valentines Day. Elizabeth hasn't decided yet what she is going to bring for her 100 item count. I suggested mini marshmellows or pink beads or Cheerios. She was leaning towards Cheerios but I may still talk her into pink beads. Her main concern is that she won't get them back. When we first talked about it yesterday, Elizabeth said she would bring 100 pictures drawn by her. I thought that was pretty sweet but explained that would take more time than we had. She agreed.

The update from her teacher said they are welcome to bring Valentines for their friends and that they would be spending time talking about how to be a good friend. So I asked Elizabeth for her list of what she thinks are good ways to be a friend:

1. Be Nice
2. Don't say mean words
3. Don't punch
4. Don't step on other people's foot
5. Hold hands
6. Say nice words
7. Play with them.

I thought she nailed it on the head with that list.

Monday after our busy weekend, Elizabeth woke up not wanting to go to school. She said her tummy hurt. I thought it was more "I am so tired I just want to stay in bed" type of tummy ache. I tried many ways to explain that school is important and she needs to go every day and then I bribed her. Both girls need new snow boots and we have not had much luck finding them. So, I said we would go shopping after school if she went. I also told her if she feels bad, to let her teacher know and they would let me know. On the way to school, Elizabeth requested I contact her doctor to find out why she has a tummy ache. I told her there are usually 3 reasons for a tummy ache; the need to go to the bathroom, being sick and need to throw up or you ate something your tummy didn't like. I don't think she believed me. But, she went into school and the day passed. During our many discussions about how to handle being sick, she asked what would happen if she was sick at school. What would I do about Ella? I explained again that the nurse and her teacher would take care of her until I got there and that I would probably pick up Ella from daycare so we could all go home and that Elizabeth would need to rest on the couch. And maybe sleep more than watch tv. Bottom line, she went to school. But, at 2:00 pm I got a call from the office manager. Elizabeth was laying down in the nurses office. So, I switched some things around at work and went and got her. She was laying on the cot under a cute blanket and was happy to see me. The director of the school explained they asked her to try going to the bathroom in case that was the cause but no luck. So they took care of her until I got there. We went to her class room and got her stuff and left. And darned if that little girl wasn't skipping on the way out. She asked where Ella was and I said at Daycare. When we got in the car, Elizabeth said - We can go shopping now Mom. I laughed and told her how cute she was and explained again that when you are sick, you can't go shopping. We stopped and got Ella on the way home and after two trips to the bathroom, Elizabeth declared MY TUMMY DOESN"T HURT ANYMORE MOM!!!!

Ella has also struggled with being tired. Monday's are never easy on the drop off and this week its been worse. Ella has been pretty crabby the last couple of days. I wonder if the frustration over her speech is finally getting to her. Tuesday was so bad I took her Mulan tape away. I lost count of the number of times she threw it that morning and after many warnings, I had to take it away. We got to daycare and she was still crying. Beth (my provider) told Ella this wasn't working any more and said maybe mom needs to drop and run. I did as I was told and left. I really was at the end of my string that morning. So, I was very glad to have someone else work on Ella. I had been telling her about bad choices and consequences but sure got tired of putting her back in her clothes. She had taken them off 3 times before we left for Daycare. The final straw was Ella taking off her boots and socks in the car on the way there. So, I carried her in with bare feet and left when Beth said to. Within an hour of being at work Beth called to say Ella did calm down but was now sleeping. She also explained that she had talked to Ella about choices and consequences... lucky we are on the same page. She went on to tell Ella that she probably made Mom sad. So, later when I talked to Ella on the phone, she asked Mulan? And I told her she was at home and then Ella said, Sorry Mom. So she gets it. She was still a pill after daycare though so it was another night at home. No shopping. Today she was great on the way to daycare and only cried a little bit. So I was pretty happy. A lot less stress that way.

So we did try shopping tonight but no luck again. This time the boots were all for older girls. I'll have to check online. After supper, the girls played. They decided it was time to take off their clothes and play chase naked. It was funny watching them do Ring Around The Rosie but I did not take pictures... I am sure you all understand.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentines!!!