Count To Five

Have you ever lost your mind? I mean literally lost it on your kids? I have and I am not ashamed to admit it. I like to say me and Lili my six year old mini me had a fight but the truth is we didn't, she was being ornery and I won but not without her being defiant. I noticed that about her and KJ they are really a pair.
See what had happened was it was homework time at my house and she really wasn't feeling it. We were home from my store, dinner had been cooked dishes washed and I was about to log in and work my work at home gig when I noticed she needed help with counting by five. (Wait a minute) first graders are counting by five now? They don't waste any time do they?
From beginning to end of the homework session with her we tussled about numbers and adding it right and doing it this way correctly. It was an absolute nightmare. She really was throwing anything on her paper to get it done thinking I was not going to check. Like I was going to just say "Ok Aaliyah, that's great you finished and now you can have a snack and watch tv."
Mind you we had been at it for over an hour and I was tired and ready to work. See when you are a single mom trying to run your business and household, and get a new album ready, time is of the essence.
My patience was gone and I blanked out. The next thing I knew the house was quiet Imani was silenty shaking her head and Lili was in the bed so was KJ. Her homework was in the trash along with all of her take home work she wanted me to see. Now I know why. See in the world where I come from there are no excuses for mediocrity. I taught Timeka that and Imani that. I expect only the best from my children nothing less. The letter C or B- is not I repeat NOT allowed in my house. I know I had a "Madea" moment I just know I did. But for good reason.
See Aaliyah if any of you who follow my blog remember was a bit slower coming out the womb than the other two children who were art students and AP students. She needed therapy to learn to speak and really to get up to speed to go to kindergarten. She was not talking by the time she was two. That scared me. They said she was autistic, that she would never talk. Well I put her in a special school and she flourished. She was taken off the special program I put her on and graduated with her little class on time. I am always in my mind, wanting her to remain at the level with her classmates or ahead because you know what?....the world when she gets grown will not care that you don't get it. They will not care that you have "special needs" or whatever which we do not say in my house. The world will put you in a box and give you rules they want you to follow and I do not want that for any of my children. So Lili must learn from me that lesson now.
She went to be with tears in her eyes and stern voice from me telling her "You WILL learn this or repeat the first grade!" That sent her into shrieks which hurt my heart but I must tell the truth.
Talk about feeling sad and guilty because I felt like there was nothing I could to help her understand this math. We tallied, I bought books on it, flash cards nothing helped. NOTHING.
That next day her school had a career day carnival and I took her alone, just me and Lili. She got to sit up front in her booster seat and everything. (That's a cool thing in my house). We get there and meet McGruff the Crime Prevention dog, she learned how to stop drop and roll, she learned how to use money and write a check. We even shared a spa treatment for free! She got all kinds of prizes and gifts, popcorn and cookies to take back to Imani and KJ as well. Aahhhh a day out on the town with my youngest daughter who really barely ever gets me to herself. Before the day was over we were holding hands back to the car. I felt better like I had gotten her back like maybe she wasn't mad at me too bad for being hard on her.
So we get home and it's count by five again. I decided to be calm and get some help, and all of a sudden had an epiphany sing to her. No better yet teach it to her.
I searched on YouTube and found this:


Why didn't I think of this before? It worked for me and before you knew it she was grinning and squealing and jumping and grinning counting by five on her fingers like in the video. She wanted to do it over and over. Eventually she got it. It didn't take an hour. NOW each day we play it because she likes the song and holds her fingers up as well with each count AND can sing the song just as fast.
I'm so proud of her. She got it. She finally got it and she was good at it too.
Whew one more hurdle down. Before she is grown I know there will be others and Mamma is going to make sure SHE GETS IT.

Til Next Time,

Mamma (Yve)