My Madeline

This year Madeline is in the second grade. And she has had a lot of changes take place in her little life. Her teacher left after the first week of school and took a position at another school and Madeline was devastated. She adjusted well to her new teacher but then we started the packing and moving process. There has just been a lot going on and I have worried that I haven't been providing the stable environment that she and Tucker need to thrive at home and at school.

Typically Madeline is a straight A student and receives nearly perfect daily scores for her behavior as well. Well, their behavior reward system this year starts on three every day and kids can move up to 6 which is excellent or down to 0 which is a trip to the principal and a call to the parents. M has only gotten a handful of 6's so when she does we make sure to make a really big deal of it. I honestly don't think she'd doing anything wrong in class...her kindergarten teacher gave me some wise advice and said, "If she were as smart as she is AND making perfect behavior scores everyday THEN I would be worried. She wouldn't be a normal kid!" But the fact that she wasn't earning many 6's was concerning to her so again- when she gets one it's a celebration.
If a kid makes a 6 in her class they get to choose something from the treasure box that day. Madeline finally got the chance at the treasure box again and yesterday she came home with a blue train wind up toy.

Tucker lost his mind. Begged for it. He had been napping when she got home from school and was still asleep when she left for dance so I wouldn't let him play with it until she came home from dance and have him permission to.

As soon as she walked in the door he grabbed the train and started in on her. Begging over and over not just to play with it but to HAVE it. Forever. I had suggested earlier that he give her the rainbow he had made in school so they would have a fair trade. He agreed that that was a good idea but neglected to mention it when he was pleading with her. I don't think she ever had a chance to respond because anything that came out of her mouth that didn't sound like "sure" or "yes" was met with louder and louder cries from Tuck. It was out of control.

I asked her to come and talk to me and told Tucker NOT to talk until his sister and I were finished. That's when she said something that warmed me to my core. Something that reminded me why being a parent is the most amazing thing- most amazing blessing- I have ever known.

She said, "didn't you wonder why, when I finally got treasure box again, I chose a BLUE TRAIN mommy? I did it because Tucker doesn't like to learn. He doesn't want to read and he doesn't want to play school with me. He acts up and won't repeat the letters or sound out the words. I got it so TUCKER could have treasure box when I am the teacher. So I can teach him to read! He will earn the train when he does his work!"
Tucker was down for it. He RAN upstairs and my boy, who usually HATES it when we try to get him to sound out simple words or identify letters etc, went upstairs with his sister and wrote his name and learned how to spell words and even sounded them out for his sister. His sweet precious thoughtful sister.

She came downstairs after he had earned his train and told me to be sure and say "yay Tucker!" And to clap for him. He came down and we both did just that. He showed me HIS new train and he was beaming with pride.

I don't know how or why God blessed me with these two souls to care for. But I am thankful. They are perfect to me and the perfect siblings for one another. I'll say it again- not every day is like this- it's not all butterflies and rainbows- but I try to keep in mind on days when it is not that God gives us the gift of a fresh new day, everyday, to be the best we can be. And some days their best absolutely fills me up to the brim with joy.


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