My daughter is in kindergarten and this means, learning to read and write and sound things out. This is a learning process for me as well because as she does these things, I realize there are many words she does not pronounce correctly. Words I never really noticed her saying the wrong way until she now tries to sound them out and spell them.
At Christmas time, she brought a lovely picture home from school of a Christmas tree surrounded by presents. She had written the words "We have a Crismas chey." I very innocently asked, "What is a chey??" She looks at me and says slowly and loudly -- "Ch-ch-ch-eeeey!!" "Oh you mean tree -- with a t"-- I tell her nicely. And then she gave me the look I am seeing quite often these days -- the look of struggling between accepting that Mommy knows how to spell things and her simply wanting to be right -- without my help!
For Valentine's Day I got a lovely homemade card wishing me a happy "Vauiltim's" day -- not sure how she got that one, but I had already noticed she always says "Valen-time's".
One day, she was making a birthday card for a friend and asked me how to spell birthday. I wrote it on a piece of paper for her so she could copy it. Within a few seconds she was standing in front of me -- feet firmly planted, arms crossed, frowning -- uh oh, what had I done now?
"Mom -- this is wrong. I asked how to spell BERT-day -- you know -- happy BERTday!"
"No honey -- it's birTTTTTHHHHday."
She was not happy. She did not like that "th" sound in that word and would not accept it as the truth. I resorted to pulling out the birthday hat they gave her at school on her own birthday with the words "happy birthday" on it so she could see that I was in fact, telling the truth. She was still angry. So angry, that she went and sat in the corner of her room pouting for a bit. (sigh) Then she insisted she was going to write it her own way because it sounded better, to which I replied, "Okay, but you'll be doing it incorrectly and the person you're giving this to will know it's wrong!" (Was that mean of me?) She refused to finish the card for a while -- but when she did, she used the correct spelling. And I was not allowed to say a thing about it. LOL
This happened at least a month ago and she will STILL bring it up on occasion -- "Mom, I really think BERTday sounds better." (Wendy, if you're reading this, she insists Kyle agrees with her!)
Guess I can't send this girl to be a contestant on "Wheel of Fortune" -- poor Pat Sajak wouldn't know what hit him! Can't you imagine -- "No Pat, that's NOT how you spell it -- I'm right, I win!"
Ahh children -- at least she sticks to her guns when she believes in something, eh? Gotta love that kind of conviction.
On another note -- Jen tagged me on her blog with something really cool. It requires me to choose some of my favorite posts from my blog. But this will take some time, so I will have to do it in a few days -- when I have a little time to really think about it.
I am getting ready to make my list of all of you who played along in my crazy 80s music trivia game. I'll post a winner tomorrow!
Happy Thursday!
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12 comments:
I understand and respect her stubborness...she'll be some kind of inventor someday...she is so cute...doesn't make mom's job easy sometimes though.
Ooh, Wheel of Fortune! Vanna, pick me a letter! :) Rita, good luck with your stubborn little one - sounds like you'll need it!
Love the way she spells. LOL I remember how bad I would pronounce words growing up.
Tel hur wee kin b partners of weel of forturn LOL
Too funny Nancy!
Oh Rita she is quite the stinker....that is so neat that she stands by her convictions so strongly.
Hmmm, cute and strong, hold on you're in for a ride! But it'll be a great one!
It's kinda funny when they get it in their heads about how something should be (mainly THEIR way). I feel your pain too, my oldest was the same way.
what a cute story rita! your dd sounds alot like my dd! they would get along wonderfully! lol!!
well...you are tagged again my friend with something a bit different! :)
LOL, honestly, how cute is she?! Love the story!
I so love the title of your post...I could totally identify with the things you said, its very important to be right.
Thats funny. You know Kyle has no clue. I just asked him how to say BIRTHDAY, and he said "birt-thay". Go figure! Kyle is learning early, the woman is always RIGHT, just agree with them. She is such a cutie. Luv her.
Another "valen-tiMe" her, Rita, and Thomas can be just as stubborn with the spelling thing. There will be lots of pouting and shouting, I just let it happen now. Best not to make a deal over it (wish I'd realised this earlier though), it's all the process of learning, and we should be grateful that these Kinders are continuing their "learning" outside of school - shows we are doing something right!!!
Love the story.... You know I think Miss "Rach" is a doll! As for this grammer whoa, don't worry about it too much, my oldest use to scare me with how she spelled words. Ok maybe you should worry... LOL Only kidding! thanks for sharing,and I really mean that, I love hearing about it.
Isn't it funny how *stubborn* our little ones can be when they get their mind set on something. I think Evan feels I am completely loony sometimes when I try to spell or give him the answer to a question.
There is just no winning an arguement with that one :0)
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