Yesterday I caught Jispa reading ‘the wimpy kid’ again. I told her to read it only on the condition that she asks us what she does not understand. Else no more reading for her. Later into the evening as she was reading I caught her again and asked her to read aloud some line. As we thought – she was skimming through. One word she knew the meaning but couldn’t read it was ‘definitely’. That’s when I looked at her and said… ‘no more reading’. She looked at me and a tear swelled in her eye. ‘no more Wimpy kid’ she said ‘not no more reading’. I just kept quiet and looked at her ‘nooo… you cant stop my reading’ she cried.
Did I feel like a third grade villain? I did not know what to do. I did not want to give in easily. Just giving up the wimpy kid would not have been strict enough and anything more would have been too strict.
I did the dad thing. ‘Now get and go for bath, brush your teeth and get ready for bed’. I just side stepped the punishment. What to do. I was not going to punish someone for reading but I sure want her to read and not skip words.
And then before bed another test of parenting. Teaching and preparing Jispa for the interschool elocution. I don’t want to push but if I don’t she does not improve. She wants to improve but that would mean making her rehearse again and again… these are not so easy calls. I would like her to do her best, win and compete. But I don’t want her to pay a price for it. So I try to tell sweetly. Keep telling her that I don’t mind if she does not practice, use emotional to make her practice. I even let her put her own emotions even if they aren’t 100% right, so that she has some ownership. And after all I also don’t know what the judges will be looking for. Her guess is as good as mine. I am happy she is processing and trying to use her brain. That’s the real battle. She competes this Friday. I hope to polish some rough edges by then. Without pushing her too hard. I really want her to enjoy it as opposed to having pressure.
I am not sure if I should go to the finals though Jasmine is keen to be there.
I would love to see her perform but I don’t want any burden of expectation. Go ahead and spit out on stage… it’s the fun that counts. If you had fun and did your best, then only will you want to do it again. What’s the point of a flash in the pan? Doing regularly what you like doing is the ultimate elixir.
Aren't you being a bit rough? She will slowly learn the exact meanings of the words. As long as she is getting the general context of the story - let her have her fun. She will slowly pick up the meaning of the words from school, home, conversations, television, cartoons and elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteTry and teach her how to find the meaning of the words. I don't know how internet savvy she is - but can she locate words in a dictionary.com or something.
Or you could let her read on her own - as long as she read aloud to you every now and then, you discuss the meaning of the words she gets wrong.
Her vocab will be an aggregate of all the words she will slowly pick up. She seems awfully bring already.
I realise what you say.. part of the reason for the blog is because I feel guilty. she gets engrossed and does not consult the dictionary or the internet. what you say is not at all wrong.
ReplyDeleteThats what makes parenting so tough. Its a bloody tight rope act.
At so many points opposites must reconcile.