Why, in trying to teach a child to plan ahead and keep track of things...
Do we do REALLY stupid things like...
Helping them to do the project at the literal last minute to keep them from flunking?
Why can't I just bite the big one and let her fail?
Last night, after she was kept home ALL day from a bad cough....at 6:30 pm, with bedtime a mere 60 minutes away....Pint tells me that her Biography doll is due. Well, past due actually. It was due Tuesday, she stayed home sick Wednesday and if she goes to school Thursday without it, she will continue losing a letter grade a day.
Which means that if she had an A on Tuesday but didn't bring her doll in, then the doll would automatically be a B, and if she doesn't bring it in on Thursday, Wednesday being a bye since she was sick..then her grade will be a C....
And yes, dearest readers, I have in fact, known about this damn doll for a month. And, I have reminded her twice in a month. It was in the nature of an experiment, which I flunked. So did she LOL.
Now, she could have done it while being home sick, but Calamity showed up.
So, at 6:30, with impending showers and bedtime..she starts whining.
The 'Biography Doll” is to go with her biography paper. She picked, of all things, a famous person she really likes. Elton John.
And do I sit her down and tell her, well, then you will just have to take the C, D, or F depending on when you get it done.
I do not.
Instead, I whip out my bin of leftover odds and ends.
We take the 2 foot paper cutout, grab a piece of cardboard and cut it to fit. Pappy looks on the internet for a full face shot of Sir Elton, which is around the same dimension as the cardboard head.
I look in the bin.
Green felt, white felt with sparklies...green glittery cord, white glittery cord, gold glittery cord, (can you tell it was just St. Patrick's day??) some big showy fabric rosettes, some brown pipe cleaners, three glue sticks...and a container of gold glitter.
THANK THE LEPRECHANS!!
We have enough stuff to create an Elton. At least she didn't pick like, um...George Bush, or Aristotle, or you know, someone HARD to dress....
15 minutes later, I have created an Elton. Green felt pants, white glittery felt shirt, long green felt sleeveless coat, brown platform shoes with white sparkle shoelaces, white sparkle stripes running down the pants legs, lots of embellishments on the long sleeveless coat, and a big ugly, gauche white rosette on the lapel of the coat.
There are times it is wickedly cool to be a mean Meemaw with a glue gun, as well as an old hippie from the sixties who can remember what the Elton John of back in the 80's looked like.
No research needed.
But now, I have to reconcile the whole “dang it, I bailed her out and that's what I did with her Mom, and look how she turned out...” dichotomy.
SHIT BALLS. I did it again. Next time, I have to let her fall flat on her face. And that is gonna hurt me. But, it's necessary. I have tried and tried to get her to pay attention and keep track. Since she won't, she is gonna have to fail to learn.
posted by: mimi (reply)
post date: 03.27.08 (5:50 pm)
maybe, just maybe, she can fail later...and maybe how calamity turned out has nothing to do with you helping her, but it's all about her and whatever it is she lacks...just like "wayward" in my family! have you ever thought about it that way? those girls need you just the way you are! xoxoxo
posted by: chrisflea (reply)
post date: 03.27.08 (6:25 pm)
Awesome doll! I want a meemaw like you! Can you make me a Elton doll too? hehe
I wouldn't worry about helping her with her homework too much. I know that a lot of parents help the kids with projects like that. But it is good to let them fall too. It's ok. Don't stress too much!
posted by: auntconi (reply)
post date: 03.27.08 (10:47 pm)
well ~ isn't that what meemaw's are supposed to do? :)
I love it ~ wish I could have been there to help you construct an "Elton Doll" ~ and listening to his music in the background. It would have been a ball!
If I may ask ~ why/how did she choose Elton instead of the aforementioned people ~ were they given choices; a list of names, etc. I am sure Elton would be proud to see this project!
((hugs))
posted by: fractalmom (reply)
post date: 03.28.08 (5:18 am)
Reply to: mimi
thank you Mimi. Very Much. I guess I am just terrified. Their mother was the best child in the world in many ways. Star student, pretty, funny, got along wth all the siblings, was the one every one went to with their problems.
yes, I do realize she made some VERY bad decisions. But I am totally terrified that something I did contributed, and desperately don't want it to happen again.
posted by: fractalmom (reply)
post date: 03.28.08 (5:19 am)
Reply to: chrisflea
LOL. I forgot to take a freakin pic to post here. When she brings it home if it survives, we will take one.
posted by: fractalmom (reply)
post date: 03.28.08 (5:21 am)
Reply to: auntconi
cuz, her Meemaw is a freak, that's why!! She used to love to put in the Muppet DVD that had Sir Elton on the muppet show. She loved the costumes and the songs, Bennie and the Jets is her favorite.
Genetics tell I guess. She never even considered any of the ones on her list. According to her, the list was B O R I N G and she marched her little 8 year old self up to the teacher and said
If it's just on somebody REALLY Famous, why can't I do it on Elton John?
And, the teacher said, well, I guess you can.
